When I was working for pay (compared to now when I work more hours than ever and don’t get paid), the Friday after Thanksgiving was my “clean the office” day. I know that those who worked closely with me hated the Monday that followed. There were so many projects that I had finally completed or documents with questions that my out-box was insufficient; several cardboard boxes were required to contain all of the outgoing items.

So on this Friday after Thanksgiving, when I have no office, I found myself going to the various files of my email and purging items that were no longer necessary. Often, the subject line did not provide enough information for me to push the “delete” key and I ended up reading the email trail. As I read email after email, I was reminded how much had been done this year, how many blessings had been received and how many challenges had been completed. It was an astounding year.

• Prayer requests made one week had been answered the week following.
• He lived his first year here on earth; something that we were not sure would happen last year at this time.
• She is committed to church in spite of pressures for her to give up.
• He is employed.
• She is on a new medication that is helping her with those roller coaster emotions.
• They are still together.
• He is alone and making it.
• Her heart surgery was a success.
• They are doing OK in spite of under employment and financial hardships.
• He got his license to go into a new career.
• We lost her, but the family is making it day by day.
• Bills were paid.

Before New Year’s Eve, take a minute and consider what 2015 brought your way. If you are like me, you will find yourself writing some emails of encouragement and notes of condolence.  And you may even find yourself singing songs of praise.

We are not promised tomorrow, but we have today, this moment.  Last year at this time, I would never have imagined being where I am today.  And, my emails tell a tale that makes me marvel.

Clean out your old files, you may find a pattern of blessings that you have not yet noticed.

Love,

Jill (just one of God’s kids)

“As for you, my brothers, never tire of doing what is right.”  I Thessalonians 3:13