“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His mercy endures forever!”
~Psalm 107:1
I am the first to admit that 2022 has nearly done me in, in a way even 2020 and COVID did not. I don’t like to talk about it, or even admit it, but rather grin and bear it.
But as the American Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I’ve been meditating on Psalm 107:1 and what it means in my life right now.
The verse instructs us to give thanks…despite whatever circumstances in which we find ourselves. It’s easy to give thanks when things are going well {Although we often forget…I wonder why that is?}
But when we are…Exhausted? Frustrated? Depressed?
Give thanks!
Why? Because God is good ALL THE TIME! His MERCY ENDURES FOREVER! Despite how I may feel at this moment in time, these are everlasting truths promised by a loving and faithful God.
And so, I offer thanks today. I have so very much for which to be grateful. My mom and dad. My brother and sister. My dear husband of 36 years Joe. My daughters. My grandchildren.
I’m also so grateful to those who read my books. Without you, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to do what I love. I thank God for each and every one of you.
How was your 2022? What are you thankful for this year?
Ready for some Christmas stories? Check out Wilde about You and The Cowgirl’s Christmas Gift.
~~Love Courageously~~ Publisher's Weekly Bestselling, award-winning author of 30 novels, Deb Kastner enjoys writing contemporary inspirational western stories set in small communities. She feels especially blessed to be able to include faith as a natural and genuine part of her characters' lives. Deb lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband and a pack of miscreant mutts. She is blessed with three adult daughters and two grandchildren. Her favorite hobby is spoiling her grandchildren, but she also enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music (The Texas Tenors are her fav), singing in the church choir, and exploring the Rocky Mountains on horseback.
Thankful for Low income apartment. Waiting to see what 2023 has in store for the world.
Hi Deb and Happy Thanksgiving. I empathize with you about year 2022. As a retiree, not sure why 2022 has me down in the dumps. Maybe it is the gloomy unpredictable Michigan weather or just getting old. Personally, the news media doesn’t help – so much negativity and decisiveness. For November I created a Gratitude calendar and for each letter of the alphabet I had several ideas I was Thankful for – over 50 items. Always on the top of my list is a warm home, food on my table, family and friends, faith and freedom. Best wishes.
2022 was a much better year for me than 2021!! I’ve discovered since Mom’s passing that being thankful is much easier than I ever realized before. It can be something small, like finding out I won an ebook from Goodreads that totally brightened my day and made me thankful. It can be a phone call, text, or something else that was a good, unexpected treat. I especially thank God that I had Mom as long as I did, and that I was blessed to be her full-time caregiver the last nine years of her life. There are soooo many things to be thankful for! I’ve tried this year to write in my journal more, and it’s one with prompts to get you to think of blessings. I don’t do as good of a job as I wanted in writing in it! However, when something good happens, I’m writing them down!
2022 has in general been wonderful. But this last quarter has been stuffed full of illness for people I love, some of which I have caretaking responsibilities for and others that just weigh heavily on my mind. Like you, my go-to method of coming to terms with it is prayer and counting my blessings. I pray 2023 will be renewed health for all!
I’m sorry to hear your 2022 was difficult and I’ll include you in my prayers!
Finding a low income apartment in today’s economy is truly a blessing!
I love the idea of a gratitude calendar! I have a space for gratitude in my daily planner. It helps me focus on the good and give thanks to God.
I am Thankful for life in itself . I am Thankful that my husband came through fine and he is doing good, he had sepsis in June and is doing great it was pretty scary. Also one of my brothers had a brain bleed and was in the hospital for over a month and Thank God and all the Dr.s and nurses he also made it fine. Have a Blessed Thanksgiving.
Oh, Trudy, your beautiful essence comes through your writing and lifted me up! Right now caregiving is a huge part of my life, and you have faithfully reminded me to be grateful for this time. Thank you sooooo much!!!
I’m up to my ears in caregiving. I had no idea how tough it would be, though I meant my vows all those years ago, in sickness and in health. I’m blessed with every day I have with my husband, as frustrating as it can sometimes be. Here’s to a blessed 2023!!
I’m sorry to hear this year has been hard for you Deb and others here. 2022 has not been the easiest year for me but I do have many things to thank God for. My husband and children, my mother, our home, that I still have a job and the fact we are able to pay our bills and put food on the table. I am so thankful for the books I love to read and all you who write them too!
When I get down about something, I always tell myself that someone always has it worse. I thank God just for loving me and always bringing me through every situation.
Wow, that’s super scary, Alicia. So glad you’re on the other side now.
Thanks, Ruthie. We love to write them for you!
God never fails, that’s for sure. He may have different plans than ours, but His are always better. It’s a good reminder!
family
Thank you so much for sharing. I am grateful for the Lord’s salvation. I am also grateful for a wonderful husband who has become my full time caregiver. God bless you.
It can be hard when its a bad year but there is always things to be thankful for. I know I had a tough few months with a tooth issue. finally the tooth is out and looks like it is the cause of some of the nerve pain I have on the left side of the face. I am thankful its out and that the pain is reducing and much more manageable. Even in the past week I can feel it reducing.
I am grateful for my cats that drive me batty at times but are very good for my mental health. They help to cope with pain better as I have a different distraction. I am really thankful we are going to have a day or so of sunshine before yet more rain.