“How are you today?”

“Man, I’m blessed. you know it.”

That’s typically something I hear, or say often.  I say it in passing and, honestly, I’ve never sat down and thought about it.  What does it mean to be blessed?  Having a healthy family? A job? Money? Sure, that stuff is nice, and are a blessing in a lot of ways!  Is that truely blessed?  I read around.  Turns out Jesus says a lot to how to be blessed.

Blessed are the merciful.
Blessed are the poor in spirit.
Blessed are the merciful.
Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Blessed are the peacemakers.
Blessed are those who mourn.
Blessed are the meek.

I am not sure I fit many of those descriptions, most of the time.  Are there other Scriptures that talk about being blessed?  Can someone give me a breakdown on being blessed in 1st world America, versus what Jesus teaches?  Is there a difference?  Is ‘blessed’ one of those words that means two different things, and you just have to know which one is which? 

I’m not being sarcastic here.  I just found it interesting that Jesus talks directly to ‘being blessed’, and I was wondering, is that a word we use to lightly?