From the simple stringing together of lemon garlands for the goddess Durga to dividing the prasadam or blessed foods for the children first I came to associate food not only with feminity but also with purity and divinity.

No matter how famous and established they were or however blessed they were with great songs or long careers if they lived alone they lived alone. That's not the way I wanted to live prior to the tour or after.

It was a mixed blessing to have famous parents. It was tough to go to auditions and be bad since I couldn't be anonymous.

Jews have deep respect for the Queen and the royal family. We say a prayer for them every Sabbath in synagogue. We recite a special blessing on seeing the Queen.

I am blessed to have so many great things in my life - family friends and God. All will be in my thoughts daily.

I have learned that track doesn't define me. My faith defines me. I'm running because I have been blessed with a gift.

It strikes me as odd that the free exercise of religious faith is sometimes treated as a problem something America is stuck with instead of blessed with.

My parents shared not only an improbable love they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation. They would give me an African name Barack or blessed believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success.

Man I just feel blessed... I was in a situation where the only way I could come out of it was by putting my faith in God. No matter how good my lawyers were no matter how much celebrity I had everything was just stacked up against me.

When you focus on being a blessing God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance.