What is the true meaning of a BLESSING?

Good Morning!! What a gorgeous morning it is! A cool 55 degrees and man does it have the soul feeling good and refreshed!!!! I hadn't planned on blogging quite so early this morning, but my heart was leading me to, so here I go! I was thinking how often I use the word BLESSED and began to wonder if my own children truly understand what that word REALLY means. Do they think that it’s a word that defines a gift given to them, or something you receive after making an offering to someone or something? I believe a blessing is a way for God to work through someone. In Ephesians 3:20, it says that God can do more amazing things than anyone can hope to do on their own. This is interpreted as being part of what a blessing is about. Though someone can pray for a blessing, that doesn't mean they will receive it. James 1:17 states, "Every good gift and every perfect present comes from heaven; it comes down from God..." I interrupt this as meaning that if someone isn't ready for the situation involving the blessing they pray for, they will not receive it. After all, NOT ALL GIFTS or offerings are considered a "BLESSING"...God looks at the HEART of a person who is giving and also at the heart of the person who is receiving. Have you ever given something from your heart to someone and felt that they didn't receive it in the manner in which you had hoped? Did you feel let down or upset over it? If you have, you’re not alone. I too have had this feeling BUT I never allowed it to discourage me from doing it again and again and again. I believe that when this occurs your heart isn’t truly in the right place for your act to be considered a blessing. It was however an act of kindness. Don't get me wrong, all acts of kindness are special and your soul is in the right place, but we must get our spirit in that same place. When you give something, you should WANT to give no matter the outcome. When your heart, soul, and spirit are ALL aligned and you present the gift then the minute it leaves your hands you should feel FULL. How the person takes and receives the gift is their choosing. They can either accept it and receive a BLESSING with the gift or take it and only get what lies in their presence. When I say my life is BLESSED, what I am saying is that I have received what the Good Lord has given me and I don't just accept it but I am GRATEFUL for it....I would hope that I receive it as a BLESSING. My husband, children, family and friends are all BLESSINGS in my life! I have to always remind myself that NOT all blessings are realized from the recipient right away. I can remember things that I myself was given and it didn't mean as much to me as it does now. Blessings that are given sometimes are merely seeds that you have planted and over the years they might just begin to grow. Well I guess I will close there so that I can go and enjoy this beautiful morning! May you all have a BLESSED day or night depending on when infact you read this!=)