"Blessings"

Whenever I hear someone say they are "blessed" or "_____ is such a blessing," I cringe. I like the idea of recognizing and acknowledging that I/you/we are fortunate. I think it's important to express gratitude. I think it's important to remember that I live a rich, full life and that I have never wanted for anything- it keeps me from feeling sorry for myself when something small goes wrong. So,some of the sentiment behind talking about "blessings" is fine with me.

But, somehow blessing seems to invoke the idea that God or whatever higher power you care to pray to has chosen you/me/whomever to receive the good things in our lives. And the corollary to that is that God/Buddha/Allah/G-d has chosen us over others who have less or who suffer more. That's the problem I have with the idea of "being blessed." Would a benevolent higher power really purposely choose one person to have all good things at the expense of another person having no good things? And if that were the case, is that higher power really so benevolent? Wouldn't that be better described as sadistic?

In my moments of self-reflection, I do feel so fortunate. I have a loving family, a good husband, a child who is the joy of my life, great friends, a rewarding career, a home, health, food, education, mobility. If I used the word blessing, I would feel truly blessed. Instead, I just feel damn lucky.

Am I making too much of this word? What connotations does the word "blessings" have for anyone else out there?