Jimbo's Jots

If you have been faithful to following my posts, you have noticed that I close with “Be blessed! Be a blessing to others!” It really is not original or just mine to use. But hopefully, you have been blessed in the meanderings and gibberish that starts in my head and eventually ends up in written form. In fact, I believe, if you click on the “Jimbo’s Jots”, it even says, “Thoughts from a simple mind and a cluttered office”. Still true!

Over the past couple of weeks, I have focused on unexpected blessings! I asked, “What was an unexpected blessing received in 2024?” Some of my friends shared and I posted their responses last week.

This week, I got thinking about the unexpected blessers! Here is what I mean, “who was the person that you received a blessing from that came out of the nowhere?” Now, having asked that, it does not have to be limited to just last year. It could be as far back you wish to go. Identify the someone who has had an influence on your life that you really didn’t think would. And maybe not someone so obvious!

My unexpected blesser was a college professor. When I started as a student at college, the man was the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students was the one who was responsible for student life, including discipline if you broke a rule. I only had one encounter with him – my freshman year. I, along with a group of students, “broke out” after curfew and used an excessive amount of toilet paper on several houses of faculty and staff. Well, we got “caught” and since it was about the curfew violation, I had to meet with the Dean of Students. He was kind but stern. Fortunately, it was exam week so the punishment lasted just 1 day.

As I continued with the education, he became the Academic Dean, now monitoring all of the coursework and professors. Since it was a small college, he also was a professor. Specifically, he taught courses related to counseling. As a Bible major, focusing on ministry versus Bible, I decided to pursue a minor in counseling. This meant for my final 4 semesters, taking upper level, undergrad coursework, with a minor in counseling, I had several semesters taking a counseling coursework each semester.. Another component with the degree plan was there were not many taking counseling, maybe 3 of us. Having a smaller class size gave us students a tremendous opportunity to learn at the feet of someone with experience and knowledge. Deep down, it started a spark of learning and connecting to people in the world of therapy and counseling.

I would like to give a shout out to Dr. Leornard Knight. He is my unexpected blesser! He was kind and patient at some boneheaded antics from a young man who later became one of a few students that helped start a path of counseling that is still growing today.

Be blessed! Be a blessing to others! You never know . . . you might just be an unexpected blesser!