Things People Have Told Me Part 7

August 24, 2026

We all have special people whose very presence blesses us. Something within them quiets us, strengthens us, or reminds us that life is good. Yet other blessings come not only through presence, but through words.

We often think of a blessing as something pronounced by a priest, minister, rabbi, or other spiritual leader. But blessings are not confined to sanctuaries, ceremonies, or the language of religion. Human beings bless one another every day—in kitchens and classrooms, offices and hospital rooms, on sidewalks, over telephones, and in the ordinary conversations of life.

To bless another person is to spiritually affirm their soul. It is to recognize something sacred in them and, through our words, help them recognize it too.

Think of the encouragement you have offered others. Perhaps you told someone that you believed in them, that their kindness mattered, that their courage inspired you, or that their presence had made a difference in your life. The person may have been a close friend, a family member, or only an acquaintance. Yet in that moment you lifted them, strengthened them, and reminded them of their worth. That was a blessing.

We bless people when we genuinely compliment them, when we express appreciation for something they have done, or when we tell them that their words have touched us. Sometimes the greatest blessings are offered for no particular achievement at all. They are simply acknowledgments of another person’s value: I see you. You matter to me. I am grateful that you are here.

Whether the words are eloquent or simple, when they arise sincerely from the heart, they affirm another person’s life, existence, and essential being.

Such words may appear small, but their effects can be immense. A blessing can interrupt despair. It can awaken confidence. It can restore dignity to someone who has felt overlooked or forgotten. Long after the speaker has forgotten the words, the person who received them may still be living from their power.

Think of the people who have blessed your life. You probably have many. I know I do. One such blessing came to me when I was a young man living away from home and attending graduate school. During that period, I often felt lost in the crowd. I was surrounded by people whose lives seemed to be taking off, while I felt as though I were simply treading water. I was studying, working, and trying to find my way, but inwardly I felt insignificant and unseen.

My roommate, Andrew, had an older sister named Patty. She was a spiritual director and was married to a minister. They had three wonderful children and lived nearby. Patty frequently brought the children to our apartment to visit their uncle. But Patty did more than merely include me in these visits. She made an effort to know me. We had long, thoughtful conversations about faith, life, and the inner journey. She listened to me with interest and treated my questions as though they mattered.

Then one day she said something I have never forgotten: “Joe, may I take you to a spiritual conference at Kanuga Conference Center?”

On the surface, it was a simple invitation. But to me, it was a blessing. Patty thought enough of me to invite me into something meaningful to her. She wanted to share with me a place and an experience she valued. Without knowing it, she was speaking directly to the part of me that felt unnoticed and unimportant. Her question carried a message much larger than the words themselves: You are worth knowing. You are worth including. Your spiritual life matters. You belong.

The conference at Kanuga was healing and enlightening. Yet its deepest gift was not limited to what happened during those few days. Patty’s invitation revealed something about the nature of blessing: we may never fully know what our words mean to another person. We may believe we are merely extending an invitation, offering encouragement, or expressing gratitude. But our words may reach someone at the precise place where they feel most wounded or alone. What seems ordinary to us may become sacred to them. A genuine blessing has a life beyond the moment in which it is spoken. It continues to unfold. It becomes part of the recipient’s inner world, a source of strength to which they may return many years later.

Patty’s blessing has remained with me throughout my life. Even now, I can feel the affirmation contained in her invitation. Her words entered my soul when I most needed them, and they continue to bless me to this day.

Perhaps this is one of our greatest spiritual responsibilities: to become conscious of the blessings we have received and intentional about the blessings we give.

Someone near you may feel invisible today. Someone may be questioning their worth, their direction, or whether their life matters. You may never know the full weight they are carrying. But a sincere word from you—an invitation, an affirmation, an expression of gratitude is a spoken blessing they will carry for years.

We have the sacred power of telling another person, in one way or another: I see you. You matter. Your life is a gift. And one day they may remember what you said to them when they pause and think of all the things people have said to them over the years. And they will receive another blessing from you, again. 

Spiritual Practice

Allow the blessings spoken to you throughout your life to rise gently into your awareness. Who spoke them? What did they say? How did their words strengthen, guide, heal, or enlighten you? Take time to receive those blessings again. Let them remind you that your life has been seen and affirmed by others, sometimes in moments when you needed it most.

Inquiry

Whom have you blessed today and what was the effect on you?

Prayer

Dear God,

Give me the awareness to recognize when another person is blessing me, and the courage and generosity to bless others.

Help me understand that even simple words, when spoken with love and sincerity, can awaken hope, restore dignity, and affirm the soul.

Make me attentive to those who feel unseen. Let my words remind them that they matter, that they belong, and that their lives are sacred.

May I walk through this world more consciously, receiving its blessings with gratitude and offering blessings wherever I go.

Amen