As I look back over my shoulder as I take the step across the threshold bidding farewell to the year that has passed and move forward into the new year, I do so with mixed feelings.
2017 was a year that challenged me. Never before have I seriously felt the onslaught of a trial as we did in 2017, so it was with great interest that I looked back to see what I wrote a year ago as I said goodbye to 2016. Here is it…
“We stand on the brink of the unknown. 2017 may be the best year ever for you. God is Faithful. It may be a tough year. God is Faithful. He will be there in the happiest of days. He will be there in the hardest of days. He will rejoice with you. He will mourn with you. There is nothing that will happen in 2017 without God’s permission, His presence and His purpose being worked out in your life. God is sovereign. It’s not about now and here. It’s about eternity and heaven. So we need not stand uncomfortably on the edge of 2017. We stand enthusiastically. We stand confidently. We forge ahead joyfully, knowing we are not alone on this journey and we don’t face the future fearfully. We face the future filled with the knowledge that the Biggest and the Best of Mentors goes with us, guiding, directing, assisting, helping, motivating, forgiving, fixing, blessing, bringing to fulfillment, comforting, smiling, carrying, watching, caring, waiting, filling, prompting and enveloping us with His mighty love. What’s to fear with our heavenly Father by our side. The worst that can happen is death and then we go to be with Him….there’s nothing bad about that. ”
Nothing has changed. I can go forward into 2018 with the same confidence. Today, Mike was out and I started to ‘hear noises!’ I went down to the kitchen to investigate, but saw nothing. I ventured out the back door and round the house to the cottage and checked all was well. Then I swept the patio. As I did so, I thought to myself, “the crooks are going to come back you know!” They will I think. If I was a crook, I would. The only thing is that we are so much more secure than we were when they first set foot on our property. I feel safer and content that it will be a lot more difficult for them to get over the back wall to start with. It’s been more than three months since the final assault and for us one of those months was on holiday. It is time to move on and the start of the new year is the best place to do just that!
The highs and lows of 2017 are evident. The lowest low was the second burglary when Morgan arrived home to find the cottage ransacked. It was devastating and the worst day of 2017. It was Sunday 13th August at 2pm. An ugly, horrible circumstance which I wish we could have sheltered from her. But nobody died. No one got hurt. It was just ugly.
The highest high has to be the news of Stacey’s pregnancy. What joy to hear the news and then to walk day by day through updates of ongoing good news. No bleeding. No signs of an early miscarriage. A scan. A heartbeat! Growth. A gender announcement. Movement! As we bid 2017 goodbye, Stacey is half way there. 20 weeks along. The Lord’s provision of this little one has changed the face of 2018. I am a Granny-in-waiting!
There was another high in 2017. David completed his Masters in Music which was a great achievement. He is doing well and looking forward to being an uncle! 🙂 We have had the pleasure of Julian coming down to Cape Town every second week. It’s always good to see him.
The most memorable event of our holiday is one that took place at sunset on Saturday 7th October. We boarded the MSC Sinfonia and cruised out of Venice. Thousands of people lined the decks….
A marvellous memory and an experience I’d love to have the privilege of repeating.
From a health point of view, Mike has his left eye issue(retinal vein occlusion) which will require ongoing treatment in 2018. I am grateful to say that his eye is still doing very well after the first injection. His next one is 18th January, but he needs to see the doc on 11th first. I think the doctor will be very satisfied.
We have a lot to be thankful for.
#523 of my 1000 thanks is for the gifts that Jesus gives that are free for all who ask – peace, joy, hope, bundled up in a package of love.
Psalm 126:3 comes to mind
The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
These are the days!
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂