The Gift of 2010

During this Christmas season, my son and I received so many beautiful cards and well-wishes. We also received financial gifts, a new set of tires, gift cards and a new website (www.rjthesman.net). It was a blessing to receive, because we knew God placed those gifts on the hearts of our friends and family. Someday, we will again be able to give back and the cycle will continue.

When I think back over the year 2010, my first thought is Whew ! Glad that year is over! But as difficult as it has been to go through unemployment smack in the middle of the Great Recession, it has been a year of growing closer to God, learning to trust more and watching how the Almighty took care of us.

Month after month, God provided – either in some sort of temp job or in a miraculous gift. We still have a roof over our heads and food in the fridge. We are still healthy and able to work. We are still looking forward to each new day and asking, “How can we bless someone today?”

The Gift of 2010 is that God allowed us to depend solely on Him. He taught us again, that He is a faithful God who cares about His children. He became, once again, the Creative One who devised a variety of miracles and used numerous people to make those miracles happen. He stretched our food, our laundry soap and even our dog treats so that we could wait a little longer before we had to buy more. He gently led us into new arenas of service and work, teaching us once again, not to put Him in a box.

I am glad this year is over, because the calendar places us one year closer to the day we meet Jesus. And who knows what 2011 will bring in the form of jobs, published books or speaking opportunities. The only constant I know is that the God of 2010 will be the same faithful God of 2011 and what a gift it is to belong to Him.