On New Year’s Day, I responded to someone’s post with the words, “Thankful for opportunities in 2023. Grateful for more awaiting in 2024.” I saw a Facebook post that read “if you are wanting more and expecting more, you first have to show gratitude for the little.” To me, that’s not meant to belittle anything major or catastrophic that happened, it just magnifies the fact that everyone has to start somewhere and reminds us to not despise the small things as we look forward and work toward bigger and better things.  

I am teaching a young lady to drive and I have told her several times that everyone starts at the same place when they learn to drive. Getting to the point where you are confident in your ability to control the car, getting comfortable behind the wheel and literally learning how to stay in your lane is a skill that we all have to learn. While some people may get there sooner than others, but nobody starts there. It’s a process. All part of the progression from learning how to drive to being prepared to pass a driving test. 

My word for last year was progress. While there was not as much progress in my life circumstances as I would have liked, there was more progress in my relationship with God than I could have imagined. That is what brought me to the gratefulness that I feel “flowing from my heart” as the song says. 

As I said last year, it’s normal to be reflective at the beginning of the year. We look back and wonder if we could have done something better or different, but we also look forward and wonder if we will do better this time.

Lamentations 2:22 -23 reminds us that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases and his mercies are new every morning. Not just on those mornings when things are going well. Not just on those mornings when chaos is all around. Each new day presents a new opportunity to experience God’s grace and compassion. Three hundred and sixty five days a year. Three hundred and sixty five new opportunities to get it right. Three hundred and sixty five times to be forgiven when you get it wrong. 

Remember that today and each day this year. You won’t be grateful for every situation that occurs, but you will be able to find gratitude in God’s grace, love and mercy as he walks you through those situations and circumstances. 

Even if you have already made and broken New Year resolutions or if you didn’t bother to set them because you knew you wouldn’t keep them. You may even be that person who makes and breaks them every year. Wherever you find yourself today, it doesn’t change the fact that God’s grace and mercy is still new every day. I can’t promise you a problem free year. God didn’t promise you a problem free life. He jus promises you a solution to every problem in the person of his son Jesus Christ. 

Be grateful and thankful each day from this day on. Read and mediate on Psalms 34:19 and John 16:33 when trials and tribulations come, and let those verses renew your faith and make you even more grateful.

Here’s to a wonderful year.

Be Blessed,

Shelia