Some pastors and church workers seem to feel the need to end every conversation or email with some sort of blessing:  "God bless you!"   "Blessings on your day!"  "God bless!" or just "Blessings!"   I don't really have any trouble with that or mean to disparage those who do this, but I don't feel that need.  Is there something wrong with me?

I feel that we live and breath in God's blessings for us through Christ.  For me, it's a given; an obvious fact.  Maybe other people don't see it that way and so I should remind them often that God is blessing them in all that they do, every day.  Well, maybe He's not blessing their foul language or fixation on internet pornography.  So perhaps I should bless them with some qualification, as in "God bless the godly things you do today!"  It just seems to get cumbersome.  I think we know that we're sinners who have been blessed not only with the love and forgiveness and promises of Christ, but also that we have his providence and even His promises of blessing that go with us always as His children.

I also wonder if it becomes such a habit that the Lord's blessing can become less meaningful.  I'm more than happy to deliver the Pauline or Aaronic blessings.  You know, "The Lord bless you and keep you. . . " or "Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God . . . ".  If I'm not mistaken, the common farewell among us "Goodbye" really started as "God be with ye."  Who knows that or thinks that any more?  It's gotten shortened and overused beyond recognition.  Now, I know that this hasn't happened with "Blessings!" yet, but the idea is the same.  Do we really mean it every time we say it?  Do we say it without thinking?  If not, then it's best left not said at all.