What does "blessed" truly mean? Click here to watch a special message from Badger Institute President Mike Nichols Friends, You see and hear the word “blessings” a lot at this time of year, and it made me wonder about the origin of the term and where exactly blessings come from. The Hebrew term from which the word eventually derived, I found, meant “to bend,” or to “bend the knee in worship or praise,” but also to “bless God as a deity.” There is a strong association with blood, to make “sacred” or “holy” with blood. You see that in Exodus, the marking of doorposts with blood makes them holy to the Lord. There is an influence from the Latin “benedīcere,” to speak well of, eulogize or praise. So, there are Jewish and Christian influences, and I think still to this day strong religious connotations. When I hear someone at this time of year say they are blessed, I think they are saying there are good things in their life that come from someplace or somewhere beyond themselves. But traditionally it’s been thought there are things that we can do to secure blessings. In fact, our nation’s Founders wrote that one of the reasons for the establishment of our Constitution, along with forming a more perfect union, establishing justice, insuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense and promoting the general welfare, was to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity . . .” I still think of blessings as often coming from a higher power, but in this holiday season we are certainly thankful as well for the blessings that come from our Constitution and from all of you. We here at the Badger Institute hope you have a wonderful Christmas and that the blessings in your life at this time of year – be they family or faith or friendship – are abundant. We hope all of you have a blessed Christmas. Sincerely, Mike Nichols, President 262.389.8239 (cell) [email protected] Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email Our work in advancing free markets, opportunity and prosperity in the Badger State is only made possible by generous donations from our supporters. We never have, and never will, accept government funding. Donate online or email Angela Smith, Director of Development. The Badger Institute is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Donate Now Listen to our New Podcast "Free Exchange" Free markets, limited government, and individual liberty – you know these principles, now hear the stories of the men and women who embody them and the policies that advance them. Listen as the team from Wisconsin’s Badger Institute come together to demystify, explore and discover ways to make communities in our state freer and more prosperous, one episode at a time. Subscribe to the Podcast The Badger Institute | 700 W Virginia St, Suite 301, Milwaukee, WI 53204 www.badgerinstitute.org Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About Constant Contact Sent by [email protected] in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!