Blessing

Today we took down all of our Christmas decorations, tucking them away for another year. It seems like every year as I put them away, I feel a bit sad to see them all go. Perhaps it's just because of the work that goes into putting it all out in the first place--but I think perhaps some of us feel a little sad watching another year go by. Maybe the year had some moments we'd rather hold on to, or maybe another year just means another year older and we're dreading the wrinkles or gray hairs that are inevitably coming. Or maybe some of you are experiencing the opposite feeling and can't wait for the new year because this one was the toughest one yet. Either way, I think the end of the year tends to draw out the pondering within us, the thoughts we don't always think.

For me, the end of the year has become a time where I ask myself questions about what I want to be doing differently, where I ask the Lord what He wants of me in the upcoming year, and where I take time to treasure the gifts I've been given....not gifts that came under a tree, but gifts of people, of places, of memories, and the gift of relationship with Jesus. After all, it all started with God's great gift to us, and I certainly want to remember His faithfulness with each passing year.

This year, God has blessed me with amazing friendships--old and new. He has blessed our family financially. He has blessed us with the gift of knowing Him more. And that's just three of the blessings He's given us. He's also blessed me with a home to live in, a husband and children to call my own, a church family I adore, clothes to wear, food to eat. I could go on and on.

So what about you? How has He blessed you this year? Even if it was the worst year of your life, there has been blessing. The blessing may even have come right in the middle of the worst moment. Maybe the blessing was a meal someone brought over. Maybe the blessing was a smile from your preschooler. Maybe it was a rainbow in the sky. Whatever it was, I know that God loves to give good gifts to His people--we just have to be on the lookout for them.

I encourage you as the year is drawing to a close, take time to think about what God has done this year. You might want to write it down so you won't forget. If you take the time to think about it, you'll definitely want to thank Him for His goodness. I personally like to make a list of one hundred things I'm thankful for from the year. And this year, I'm actually making a list of one hundred people I'm thankful for in 2010.

Whatever you do, however you do it, I hope you'll remember the One who gave it all to us. And I hope that you'll enter 2011 overflowing with the joy of Christ Jesus. Happy New Year!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17