Showers of Blessings

The Lord has blessed me in so many ways. I have come to realize that a number of things I have taken for granted are mine because he has been gracious to me. I thank God for my family. I thank God for my friends. I thank God for everything he has given me.

I thank God for challenges, realizing that if life remained routine I would soon wallow in complacency thinking that everything I've achieved was due to my puny efforts. I don't want to wallow in complacency, nor do I want to remain in the pit of despair. I've been there far too much lately, blaming everyone for things they couldn't control.

The meaning of Christmas isn't in the gifts we receive. I realize this. It is in the showers of blessings I receive from knowing others and the feeling I get when I know that I've made a difference in someone's life.

I haven't felt that way for a long time. Frankly I blamed my interia on economic and social trends. I wanted, and still long for meaningful work that supports me and my family. Yet, I can't help thinking that I need to step away from this attitude and move forward towards what the Lord has for me. He has placed some ideas in my heart, and asked me to step out in faith.

It won't be easy. I do have no place to go but up now. I am almost at the end of my strength, but the Lord gives me hope. I can grab onto that hope and spread it around to others.