On one of my recent morning walks I was struck by the thought that blessings take work. I try to walk most days of the week early in the morning before children are up but I am not a natural morning person so this can prove difficult. When I do the work of getting to bed early enough to be able to get up with passable ease, the blessing of walking along the river makes it worth the effort. I have seen many wild animals on my early walks, river otter, fox, deer, ducks with their ducklings and blue herons. The work is worth the return and I gain far more than I give up.
I think of other blessings that require time and oftentimes, planning. Individual dates with my kids is one. Even if it's just tea and a treat together, if I don't stop and intentionally steward that time for us it doesn't happen. Other personal examples include, taking time to play the piano, watercolor, garden, read a fun novel. These are all blessings given to me by God not to hoard and hide away but to use.
I am thankful for that God-given thought that blessings take work. I sometimes felt a little resentful that even enjoyable things required labor. I don't think the work should detract from the joy of the blessing but instead add to it because things that are worth our time and stewardship give far more than they take.
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