Last week I was encouraged - and challenged - to get back into it from an unexpected source. An acquaintance had stumbled onto my blog and kindly wrote to me encouraging me to keep writing......saying they had been 'blessed' by reading it. These kind of comments always surprise me, but are also humbling and as I said, encouraging.
Anyway, it was the gentle nudge I needed and every day since then the urge to 'write' has been simmering away.......it's just a matter of GETTING AROUND TO IT!!
As with my past blogs, I have tended to write about what I am facing or dealing with 'at the moment'. There were a couple of major events in my life last year which I will write about but not this time....ha!
This being January, my thoughts have turned towards New Year Resolutions etc. I'm not really big on these. I tend to think more about goals to focus on and ideas I want to put into practise.
We have been challenged with some teaching at our church this month regarding New Year resolutions. Often they are centred around ourselves - our wants, needs and desires. But the challenge was to ask ourselves the question "what breaks your heart?".......and then from the answer to that question form a resolution or a goal as we move forward into the new year.
While I can think of things that break my heart, I am still pondering what to do about it from a personal aspect. There are many 'things' you can do and get involved in. So for me right now the question must also be asked.......what is the Lord saying to me in all of this?
I hope and pray I get some clarity soon as February is fast approaching!!
February 2016 is a memorable month for me. On the 14th I will be having a 'significant' birthday!
Notice I didn't say 'celebrating'! They say 'it's just a number'.......but really?
I will enjoy getting together with family and a few friends to mark the occasion but if I'm honest.....I have very mixed emotions about this one.
I am looking forward to having candles and cake with my grandsons though!
Speaking of grandsons........I now have 3 of those!
On December 5th we welcomed the arrival of Bodhi Johnson, born to my son Heath and his wife Courtney. What a precious gift! I am so thankful to the Lord for his safe arrival, and am very excited with the thought that I now have 3 grandsons. What an incredible blessing to our family.
Bodhi - taken at 6 weeks old.
While this year marks a significant birthday for me, it is also the start of a new season in my life where I am living on my own for the first time. I have been a widow now for over 4 years, but during this time have had the blessing of Heath and Courtney living with me.....well...in the flat on the ground floor of my home. Then when little Bodhi arrived in December it was a real treat to be able to see him everyday!
Recently however, they have moved to their own place - which is a good thing for them. I am very happy seeing them set up their own home, and it's great they are only a few minutes drive away.
So once again, I have found myself adjusting to a new season of life. I know living alone is the norm for millions of people, but until it happens to you, you don't really know how you're going to feel and cope.
It's early days for me, and there's still a lot of adjusting going on in my thoughts and emotions......but the GREAT thing is .....I KNOW the Lord is with me.....as He has always been and always will be.
So now for 2016! New season. New opportunities. New challenges. New goals.
Maybe it's time to let go of old habits and push myself out of my comfort zone into new and different disciplines? What does that look like?
What breaks my heart? What can I do that will make a difference?
What can I do that will have lasting value.....that will make a difference for eternity?
BIG questions!! But so important!
I wonder how you are going with these questions?
Sometimes we just need to ask ourselves the hard questions and have the courage to actually go after the answers.
So all the best with your dreams, desires, goals and resolutions for this year.
May you be blessed in the name of Jesus!
Till next time...........
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