The Quiet Blessings

It’s the quiet blessings. The ones done behind the scenes. Done from the most vulnerable, sincere place of love. Blessings that are discovered long after they are given. I met a blessing giver of this variety today. Her name is Pat.

A Quiet Blessing

My family arrived at church before the viewing began. My grandfather, 96 years old, had passed unexpectedly. As our family gathered to say our goodbyes, we barely filled the front two rows. One by one, on our own terms, we approached the casket. Tears, joy, and sadness merged in a bittersweet combination.

The last of my grandparents. I was his only granddaughter and my brother his only grandson. My boys, the only greats. So many wonderful memories, and still, not enough time.

My mom embraced a woman I’d never met. They talked for a long time and reminisced. Cousins. Only one month apart. Story after story. Beautiful memories.

Then I introduced myself. She shared stories I’d never heard and identified family connections I didn’t know existed. The names were familiar and eventually the relations made sense.

But I wasn’t ready for her last story. My grandparents held a special place in her heart. They cared for her in ways that changed her for the better. And when my grandma went into the nursing home, she sent fresh flowers to her every week. She knew how much my grandmother loved color. And she wanted her to have something beautiful, fresh, and new to look at all the time.

I had seen the flowers. Each visit, my grandma pointed them out and talked about how pretty they were. But she had no idea why someone would want to keep sending her fresh flowers week after week.

But Pat wanted to bless my grandma. And she told the florist to make sure the flowers got there every week. With each new arrangement that arrived in her room, my grandma felt remembered. Cared for. Loved. And blessed.

There was no fanfare. Just love in action. Weekly flowers. A blessing of hope. Love. And gratefulness.

God’s Quiet Blessings

It’s his quiet blessings. The ones done behind the scenes. Done from the sincerest place of love. The ones we miss in the moment but recognize over time. My family is one of them.

Loving grandparents on both sides who believed in Jesus and cherished time with their grandchildren. Safe homes that modeled hospitality for the younger generations. Homemade meals and desserts prepared with kindness. And good memories too numerous to count.

Parents who worked hard and provided well. A safe home that was open to any of our friends. Genuine love. Necessary discipline. And intentional encouragement.

My home was a good home because of my grandparents. Their quiet blessing of a steady life trickled down to my parents. And my parents taught me the value of a loving, intentional home.

Saying goodbye to my last living grandparent opened my eyes to the many years of God’s hand moving behind the scenes. The melding of his guidance and the reality of each person’s free-will pressed together in an eye-opening moment. God longs to give his children good gifts. Matthew 7:11 (ESV) says: If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! The amazing thing is he does it even when we don’t ask.

I Want to be a Blessing

It’s the quiet blessings. The ones done behind the scenes. Done from the most vulnerable, sincere place of love. Blessings that are discovered long after they are given. I want to become a blessing giver. Just as I’ve been blessed and learned of ways others were blessed, I want to do that too.

How about you? Let’s ask God to use us to bless those around us. Even if He’s the only one who knows we did it.

 

For more on God’s blessings: Grace like Rain—Blessings of God – Inspire A Fire

© Christy Bass Adams, June 2026, all images from Canva