Futures

As I sit at my desk pondering the past year, I realize that I am one blessed man. I have a great wife, outstanding daughters, the best sons-in-law, and the smartest grandchildren to be found anywhere. I don't always appreciate what I have, so today is a special day of reflection.....

Blessings come in so many forms. The sunrise. The rain on a warm Summer day. A bright sunny day in the Spring. All of these are blessings that I often overlook. I just celebrated a birthday that I thought I'd never experience, so I have vowed to be more aware of these blessings as I go forward in life. I want to be more aware of what God has provided. I want to be more appreciative of those who are part of my life. I want to be less grumpy and more positive in my demeanor as I interact with those around me. In other words, I want to reflect the blessings that I know I have.

I know that 2021 isn't a great memory for many. The pandemic has caused many to lose loved ones. Health issues not connected with the pandemic have caused death and loss for so many as well. This year will not be remembered as a blessed time in those lives who are left behind and for that, I am sorry. I pray that those people can once again experience joy and happiness and remember the good times with those they lost.

Jesus experienced loss and hard times. He knew the sadness of losing a friend. He felt the effects of grumpiness from others. He understood all too well the shortcomings of human nature. He created us to be free of those harmful things, but we blew it. So, He came to Earth so that He could experience those as a human. He came to provide salvation for a failing creation. As a result, He went thru all the trauma and drama that we often experience. But He did it for us, not for Himself. He came so that we can appreciate the blessings of a life free from worry and guilt. He came so that we can enjoy the sunrises, sunny days, and friends without worrying about the next life. He came so that we can know an eternal life without the fear of death. He accomplished His goal so that we can accomplish His purpose for us... to honor Him and love one another and love His Father as He loved us.

How we love Him is to do His will. That's not easy without His help. Believe me, I've tried. I can write a book on how not to experience Jesus. I can tell you stories about what not to do to follow the teachings of our Savior... another time.

I want to wish each of you reading this reflection a very Prosperous and Successful 2022. I don't care if you're rich, poor,or in-between; you can have a propsperous and successful year with Jesus in your life. You can be blessed beyond measure in God's Kingdom even if you don't have earthly wealth or comforts. God provides for His people. God blesses us when we least expect it with friends converted, churches that reflect His glory, and freedom from earthly worries. I pray that each of you will reflect on your own life and the blessings already in them and ponder Jesus. He won't disappoint !!!