Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone had a very Christ-filled holiday season.  I sure did, even though yours truly wasn't able to spend time with family.  The second best option was to spend a few hours with the men and women of my support group.  We had a great time of fellowship over a hot meal.  I took two to-go plates to friends of mine whom I knew probably didn't have family nearby to help celebrate the season.  Then I spent the remainder of the day in solitude.  On Tuesday I also celebrated my 49th birthday.  Yes, the last year of the age decade is coming to a close.  Not sure how I feel about it as I reflect back on the time spent in my current place of residence.  Why can't I be happy and experience the abundant joy I know is possible through the Lord Jesus?  He has so richly blessed me, yet I often fail to "taste and see that the Lord is good".  Happiness is fleeting, but joy can be had in spite of life's circumstances.  Try as I may, I keep missing the long-sought after connection.  I know it's there.  What am I doing wrong?  Part of the journey in discovering the secret of true joy is not to give up, but to keep treading along the path as directed by the Holy Spirit.  No, I won't give up!  Hopefully I can travel to see family once the New Year is upon us.  Until then, I'll keep counting each day as the blessing it is.  On Sunday, January 1st, I will participate in the First Day Hike that so many of the local state parks are offering.  I did this in January of 2020 right before the pandemic and really enjoyed the time spent in nature.  What does 2023 have in store for me?  Guess I'll have to find out; however, I'll take each day as it comes seeking God the Father with all my heart and soul.  Christmas is so much more than a holiday that arrives in December of each year.  It can be every day as I receive and give away the blessings that come my way.  If I don't pay it forward, the blessings can rot like yesterday's manna.  Most days, I'm thankful that we are not tied to the past.  The future can be used to start over and improve my relationship with the Lord Jesus first and those around me second.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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