What a season of blessings we have just had.
Once again a time of year when the spirit of warmth and love surrounded us. A time when we looked forward to being with family and friends. Amid the wrappings and trappings of Christmas, we hugged each special relationship to our heart and thanked God for the joy He has brought into our lives.
I am no different and I cherish the gift of each member of my family and of each friend beyond all things. My life is richer because of our time together, and the way they have helped me when I needed a living faith and a faith for living. And not the least among them is my husband who is always there for me, making my life simpler and richer in so many ways.
It is a time when I thank God for keeping us healthy and together for all these years, and I say a prayer for those who have lost loved ones forcing them to learn the difficult lessons of doing without, of facing each day without the loving support of that special person in their lives. Yes, they are in a better place but for those left behind, this place is not as good as it once was.
As Christmas passes and another year begins, I feel like I am standing on the edge of a new opportunity to build the life God wants for me.
It is a time when I think about starting again, about what the new year will bring. Will I make new friends? Will I have new challenges to accept or overcome? Will I remember my many blessings and about the ways I can touch a life in His name?
Jesus came into the world as a new beginning and touched so many lives. He is still doing so today, and our lives abound with the wonders He has wrought. God believes in new beginnings just as we do when we take communion or bow our heads in prayer.
I pray that I will take a step in the right direction, and between God, my Bible and my church service on Sunday morning, I can come to understand what that might be. He used His son Jesus Christ to make the world a better place, just as each of us has the same opportunity.
We can all use new beginnings to touch another's life with love, with friendship, with caring and support. We too can help make the world a better place just as Jesus did.
Most of us have experienced the pain of loss, whether it has been a family member, a friend or even a beloved pet. While this was hard for us to bear, so must God feel pain when one of His goes astray. He offers us ultimate peace, infinite joy, eternal happiness.
All we have to do is step into His open arms and we will be home at last. My new beginning is for this lifetime but the opportunity to live in God's house can be ours forever and what can be greater than that.
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Burgess has been a Bella Vista resident since 1995. She and her husband, Bruce, are avid cooks.
Religion on 01/21/2015