Practicing Gratitude ~ A New Beginning!

I am so grateful for beginnings.  Sometimes ends, too, but mostly beginnings!  I'm thankful that even though, technically, any moment of any day of any week of any month is a beginning, we have times and days that FEEL special, that urge us to take stock and/or look ahead with anticipation.

Times that seem like they're created specifically for reflection and new goal setting.

I'm thankful for God's patience with me ~ clearly I'm not quite what He'd like me to be yet and He keeps giving me one more year.  One more beginning.

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be,
In working, or in waiting, another year with Thee.

Another year of progress, another year of praise,

Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

 

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace;

Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face.

Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;

Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

 

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,

Another year of training for holier work above.

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be

On earth, or else in heaven, another year for Thee.

--Francis Ridley Havergal (1874)

And I'm thankful for God's promise to go with us wherever we go, whatever we do, whatever happens. His presence is not only reassuring and comforting, but makes life make sense.

Best wishes for a year of blessings both great and small, for the ability to recognize them for what they really are, and for the humility and grace to live in gratitude and contentment for even the smallest one.






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