A Blessing for Each of Us

A Blessing for Each of Us
by Heather Collver

Have you been living in the shadow of a sibling? Have you allowed the successes of other siblings to dim the blessing God has in store for you? Are there times when you have been jealous of the blessings your siblings have received?

Isaac was not the first born child of Abraham. As Sarah had grown old, she offered her maidservant, Hagar, to her husband so that he would have the son that God had promised. Hagar bore Abraham a son, Ishmael. Later, the Lord revealed that Sarah would have the son he had promised Abraham. As Isaac grew, his presence as Abraham's rightful heir brought him into conflict with Ishmael.

Abraham was saddened by the conflict between his sons and God promised that Both would be blessed. Isaac and his descendants would become a great nation and God's chosen people. Ishmael would become the father of a great nation as well. Abraham loved them both, but he loved God even more. When Isaac was a young man, God tested Abraham's faith by commanding him to sacrifice Isaac as an offering. When Abraham placed Isaac on the alter, an angel appeared and stopped the sacrifice. This showed clearly that Isaac was God's choice to carry on the Covenant he made with Abraham.

Through the ages, there are many scriptures that tell us there has been conflict among siblings. Able and Cain, Isaac and Ishmael. I have 3 other siblings myself. Finding your place in the scheme of things does create a bit of conflict as you grow up. I see it in our children as well. Each wants to impress their parents, each wants to become something grand. As a sibling, I often compare myself to my siblings. But that is not what God has planned in our lives. He has blessed each of us according to our abilities and our gifts. He has a plan for each of us that is different from each of our siblings. As a parent, I often compare each of my children to each other. Not verbally so that they hear me, but when I do this, I usually stop myself from further thinking. That is not how God has created them. They are individual people who each have amazing abilities and gifts and there is a blessing for each of them. I have to make sure that I encourage each of them according to their gifts and not focus on where they are lacking (or where they don't compare to their siblings).

Dear Lord, it was a bit hard to admit that I have played the game of comparing myself or my children. Lord, I know you have created each of us uniquely so that we can use our gifts and abilities to our fullest. Help us to see who we are and know that we are different from our siblings. Help us not to dwell on our inabilities or the lack of giftedness in certain areas that our siblings excel. Help us to be the parents who will cultivate and nourish the blessings that you have given to each of our children.

Please continue to pray for Shawna L. this week, thanks again.