I Am Blessed
This has been a most unusual year, as I doubt any of you would argue. And not a very good one in many ways. But have you also been blessed? I certainly have been, and quite spectacularly, too. I’d like to share some of my blessings with you and urge you to consider your own. Maybe you will share them with us; I, for one, would love to hear them.
I’ve lost 51 pounds since May. This is nearly inconceivable to me. I’m so grateful for friends who have helped and supported me through this process – you know who you are! I’ll be forever in your debt.
The weight loss has enabled an increase in my activity level and many of you know Rick and I purchased electric bikes a few months ago. I’m on the move again and love it!
I started this blog in August after a rather startling prayer event during which I was impressed to do so. I didn’t know the first thing about putting a blog together, though I’d wanted one for some time. I hit Google up for information and in less than 24 hours from the thought that said “Go!”, had it up and running. If no one else was blessed, I could still say that I have been, enormously. And some of you have also been, or so you’ve told me. Words can’t express my appreciation for your taking the time to read these posts and for your comments. God bless you! I managed to snag a free-lance writing job for which we’re still negotiating the particulars. That promises to afford me much pleasure.
I needed some major dental work done (emphasis on the “major”) and decided to move forward with it in September. It has been a not altogether pleasant experience but I’m very excited about the results to this point. I’m 4/7 of the way done – eight teeth down, six to go. By the end of January I’ll have a new smile!
My father is still living at just shy of 93. He’s led a remarkable life, and my sister has enabled the last several years of it. For her, I’m grateful in the extreme. Thank you so much, Susie. This is not an easy time in the life of a family but there have been some bright spots, too.
Rick and I celebrated 48 years of marriage in August. God alone knows how thankful I am to have been partnered with this man for these many eventful years. We plan to spend eternity together and that makes us both smile in gratitude.
And that brings me to what I’m the most thankful for of all: Jesus and the future He makes possible for us, an eternal future. Jeremiah, in one of Scripture’s better-known verses, says, ” ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ ” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV). Hope for the present, however difficult we might find these times to be, and the assurance that these tough times won’t last. There’s much better coming, friends. Much!
So take heart. Count your blessings over this past year (and share them with us, please, either here at the site or on FB, where I’ll be sure this gets posted). Consider that as dismal or exciting as this year has been for you, this is only a short stage we’re passing through. Our true lives, the lives we were meant for, haven’t even started yet.
I am blessed. And so are you.
7 Comments
Sherri
Beautiful words, Carolyn! Yes, a difficult year, but there are still many blessings to count! The virus is frightening and dangerous, but our immediate family has been safe so far. We’ve been able to visit with them in our backyard, at the lake and on Zoom. My one cousin, who was infected and spent time in the hospital, is now home and recovering.
I hope that the vaccine will bring us more hope and a return to a new normal in 2021–another blessing!
Carolyn Karlstrom
Yes, good point about the vaccine(s), Sherri – I meant to mention that very hopeful development! Thx for reading and for commenting. So glad you and yours got safely thru the year. On to 2021!!!
Trudie
The year 2020 has had its ups and downs for sure! But there are no oops or surprises with God; And the God of the valley is the God of the mountain tops! Even if I can’t see how, I can be confident that God is working for his glory and our eternal good. I know one thing for sure, I’ve been on that potter’s wheel spinning around being molded and molded until I’m dizzy lol I try and figure God out and put him in a box too many times! Where I am my family are continually blessed, I’ve been through some dry times in the desert! But God works all things for the good for those who love him and I’ve come to have greater faith and trust. What did they say, when you leave everything in God’s hand, then you see God and everything… I’m thankful that I met Carolyn and Susie and I enjoyed this blog very much! I rejoice in the fact that this is not my home and just like dessert is to a meal, the best is yet to come! and I’m excited for that! ❤️
ckarlstrom
Thank you, Trudie! Yes, we’re fortunate to be in God’s hands, aren’t we, and isn’t He good to us!! I love your insights and well-thought-out comments. Always. Thanks so much for reading and for sharing!
Beth
Hospitalized twice with Covid. Had bilateral pneumonia and was in acute renal failure. I am now sharing my testimony as to how God used this cruel virus for something good. Wondering if anyone else has had some similar experience. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” gives John and I a deeper understanding of how faithful our God is and that we can always, in all circumstances, trust Him to direct our paths. He brought good out of my illness and hospitalizations with Covid. If I hadn’t been so severely ill with Covid that shocked my kidneys into renal failure, there would not have been an ultrasound and my subsequent followup testing and diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma. My surgery (total hysterectomy with BSO) was on 11/27 at Mayo Clinic, and it went well. Home the same day, sore but oh so very grateful. The doctor said she believed the cancer was contained in the uterus with no involvement of ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, or lymph nodes, and the pathology report confirmed such. I am cured of this endometrial carcinoma with the surgery and will not need chemo or radiation. I’ve really been a hot mess since Covid, but God is faithful, and he has surely and steadily been directing my path. So very thankful! Trusting in Him fully and always! My husband and I were blessed with 50 years of marriage this year and take comfort in knowing we will spend eternity together as believers in Jesus Christ! Blessed beyond total comprehension! 💕
Jennifer
I have so much to be thankful for. I am thankful for five amazing months spent with a friend that means the world to me, and has an open heart for God and others! I am thankful for an amazing and supportive husband who wants what’s best for me and others, even if it means sacrificing on his part. I am thankful for an amazing friend who watched my horses for 6 months while I was out of state and wouldn’t even let me pay for their food! I am thankful for my heavenly father who refused to sell my house way up North, on 40 acres on the river, just so we could move back to it this summer – and covered all the expenses for it over the last three years. I am thankful for numerous friends who have come out of the woodwork to help us when my husband was injured…They cut up, split, and put 10 full cord of wood in our basement, driving hours one way to help us. I am thankful that God worked a miracle and provided a brand new septic and drainfield field that was ginormous in before the December 1 deadline…and that it’s paid for! I am thankful for so many people who have helped us financially, and have donated here and there, to where we have received $7,000 as of today! I don’t even know who some of the donors are. My God is great. I am thankful for an amazing and loving church family that pulls together and helps each other in any way possible. I am thankful for friends like Carolyn, that are moved to help others as the spirit leads. I am thankful for all the prayers over this year. I am praising God that I just accepted a full-time position! I am praising God my husband drove for the first time in almost 5 months this past week. I am thank to God that because of so many generous people we’re actually looking to replace our truck sooner rather than later. I praise God that He knows the future and holds us in His arms. I am so thankful that Jesus is coming soon, and He wants me, and each one of us there!
Carolyn Karlstrom
I commented elsewhere so won’t do so again here except to thank you again for sharing this spectacular testimony. It’s a wow!!! ❤️