Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days
(Ecclesiastes 11:1)

     Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) began losing his hearing while in his twenties. By 1804, he was completely deaf. Between 1800 and 1824, he wrote nine symphonies. On May 7, 1824 his Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125, a choral symphony, was first performed in public. It was the first example of a major composer using voices in a symphony. At the end of the performance, his back was towards the audience. Due to his deafness, he was unaware of the standing ovation taking place behind him. When a member of the choir turned him around, he was amazed to see the audience's applause for the blessing his work had been to them.
     Perhaps you, like Beethoven, have also blessed others without knowing it. If so, you are blessed. For the blessings you have given to others will eventually come back and bless you through the lives of those whom you have blessed. Therefore seek to "be a blessing" (Gen 12:2) to others. In so doing you will reap a blessing for yourself.