I’d be grateful if you would stop saying you’re blessed.

I admit I’ve got issues with the expression I am so blessed!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m fully in favor of expressing gratitude, during Thanksgiving and every other day of the year. I vehemently approve of gratitude and I think being thankful, even in the face of significant challenges, is a wonderful and wise way to go through life.

But grateful and blessed are not the same.

To be blessed is to be in divine favor, gifted by God.

If God has bestowed special favor on you, then what about the less fortunate souls among us? What about those living in a war zone, battling cancer or grieving a child? Has God chosen not to bestow blessings upon them? What kind of God is that?

Maybe you are fortunate, lucky, or simply worked hard and smart with your resources. You may have a positive attitude, a great mindset, an excellent work ethic. Perhaps you are loving and kind too. You’ve got a great job, a beautiful family, a dream vacation coming up. Be happy, be proud, and by all means be grateful!

But this year, can we please agree to stop being blessed?