Reflections

Reflections

Yesterday in church, the Pastor during the prayer time, opened the floor up to anyone who wanted to say what they were thankful for in 2011.  Very appropriate, although my first thought was, "Where do I begin?". Although I did not get up and speak, I guess because I was so overwhelmed at the thought, it did spur me to write this and share with you some of the things I was thankful for this past year.  I am hopping that it will also nudge you into thinking about the same.  It is always good to reflect!

I am thankful for my family. My dear wife, who by the way, has decided to stay with me at least one more year. This will be year 37. She has trouble making up her mind. :-) But besides my wife, I have 3 wonderful sons, 2 of them are married to wonderful women who have made them better people.  My youngest son is now in a relationship which I pray will lead to marriage as well.  We met his significant other and are thrilled with her!  She really is a a person who makes my son a better man. Seriously. He needs her, even if he can not see it now. This is another thing for me to pray about.

I also have 6 wonderful grandchildren. Each one is a blessing.  I often say that if I knew that having grandchildren was so fun, I would have skipped having children and would have gone straight to the grand-kids part. Others have pointed out my folly on this, but I still maintain the concept.

I am thankful for my brother.  I have written about him in the past.  He continues to be an inspiration to me. I appreciate his love for the LORD.

I am thankful for my church family...and it is a family.  We share each others struggles and pains, but we also rejoice when one of us is lifted up and blessed.  It is such an important and meaningful part of my life, I simply cannot put is aside.  I pray that each one reading this would have the kind of church family that I have. Just a blessing!

I continue to be amazed at how the LORD works. Not only in my life, but in those around me as well.  I am doubly astounded when He works with me.  I would probably have given up long ago. But He continues to inspire me and works with me so that I can become the kind of man He wants me to be.  I am forever grateful about that!  I hope you are too as He works with you.

I could go on and on and on and...well, you get my point.  We must all stop sometimes and just count our blessings, don't we?  It is so easy to get caught up in the negative things of life. So easy to become bitter and doubtful, we must always encourage one another to see the good that God has done.

Make no mistake, these blessings are not my own. I have not earned them. They have been given to me to share. So dear friends, why don't you take some time and write your own blessings down and share them as well.  I find when I am feeling down, or when things are not going my way, just pulling them out and reflecting on them is a great way to put everything back into perspective...everything back on the right track.

Try it out and see if is will work for you too.  I am confident that it will because God is Good! Happy reflections.

Blessings all!