At the end of the year many of us reflect on what transpired over the course of the last 12 months. Some things jump out at us as wonderful and others as painful. Plus, there are many events that don’t immediately come to mind but will breakthrough our busy mind if we take a little extra time to ponder.

As you consider 2024, what blessings come to mind? This past year was a hard one for my family. We lost my dad. But even in this situation, we have found blessings. He was 94 years old, so one blessing is that he lived a good long life. Another is that he is now with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are all grateful that it wasn’t a long-drawn-out illness. And we were able to see a small glimpse into the many people he positively impacted over the course of his life.

Blessings are not always easy to see but if we choose to look hard enough, we’ll find them in just about anything. That reminds me of a worship song from 2011 (playing on the AllWorship Praise & Worship stream) by Laura Story. The title of the song is “Blessings”. Here are a few lyrics:

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if the thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

I pray that all your blessings in 2024 were the joyful kind. However, if you had a hard year, I encourage you to take some quiet time and reflect and let God bring to mind the blessings in the midst of hardship, pain and loss. And may God bless you with many wonderful blessings in 2025.

Happy New Year!

Therese Romano
Program Director