Blessings

everyone's always talking about blessings, "bless you", "you're blessed", "i'm blessed", it's become a word that is used by anyone and all the time, but what does it actually mean to be blessed? i don't want to throw out a dictionary definition, it's pointless- unless webster has actually witnessed and had a blessing, he has no idea the power of a blessing. well, to me, a blessing is God's ultimate gift, an answer to prayers, a promise, and something he won't ask for back. These past few days i've been thinking about my blessings: a house, 3 blankets on my bed for the cold winter nights, heating when the blankets aren't enough, hot water when i come in from the rain and cold, a mom who makes the best chicken curry in the whole world, a dad who understands, a sister i can pick on and lead to God, the rest of my family- all special in their own ways, a church where i am welcomed and loved, and above all friends.
being a part of the indian culture, it's always emphasized how important family is, but i'm living in a western society where friends are the focus, not family. and you know what, my friends are nothing else but a blessing. each day i have to thank God for bringing them into my life, and i do. each one in their own way help me through my day in their own way. one makes me laugh, another tells me when my head gets too big, another sprouts with the wise words at just the right time, and the other listens when i need to be heard. They really are God's blessings, i can't emphasize that enough, and i don't ever think they will actually know how much of a blessing and privilege they are in my life.
i don't want to get sappy, but they really are a big part of my life, and i truly believe, and we tell each other this all the time, we are lucky and blessed to have each other. through all the battles of life, home, work, school, we've helped one another fight and conquer. when hallmark talks about friends they have no idea what they're talking about. real friendship isn't described in words, it's felt inside and granted and given by God.
just image, 20 years ago, God was forming 4 other people who He knew i was going to meet 18 years later, in an english lit class, was going to form a study group and form a bond that will last us until we, well....until He decides. i can't in any way believe it was randomness that brought us together, no way was it coincidence that caused one of my friends to move half way across the world to be at my highschool and in my class. i'm not leaving this magnificent grouping of people to random molecules that could possibly have missed a collision, i leave it to God, who caused circumstances to collide, to be brought together. Someone's gotta be behind this blessing, and it's gotta be God Himself, who knows all, sees and, and forms the now for the future.
Amongst all my blessings that i recieve and have recieved, i'm glad for the 4 in my life that are in the 4 friends that i thank God for daily.