Good morning / afternoon / evening to you wherever you are 💕. I hope you’re doing well.

So we’ve entered the final week of 2020. This may be a relief to some, to others maybe a wake up, to others it couldn’t have come soon enough. But I just want to take a minute to ask what we’re thankful for. It’s been a really difficult year for some, others it’s been a great year. But however it’s been, from January to now December what can we be thankful for? We can be thankful for opportunities that came, amidst what was going on. You can be thankful for your loved ones. Perhaps even during difficult times, perhaps people showed out and supported you through difficult times.

This year truly has been a lot, collectively it has been draining I think. And it’s okay to admit.

When praying this week, I prayed that God give me the strength to still hope. With the way that this year had gone, and all that is going on in the world, it’s easy to just think 2021 is going to be worse and a disaster and already have a pessimistic viewpoint. Now I can’t tell you how 2021 is going to be. I can’t promise anything. But if there’s one thing that stays the same and remains that’s God. I had a reality check the other day that God never promised an easy life, unfortunately. However He assures us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is with us always even until the end of time (Matthew 28:19).

If there’s another thing I learnt this year is that love knows no bounds. We’ve seen love and kindness being shown, through the volunteering of people’s time and efforts helping those in needs, just seeing families spreading joy even through Zoom rather than in person. Though it’s been tough, we’ve learnt to adapt (I think we can all safely put adaptability as one of our key skills). If there’s one thing you can do this coming year, every single day is show love. Show love to others and show love to yourself. Be kind, whenever you can. It’s something we teach children, but we forget to do as adults sometimes.

All in all, I guess what I’m trying to say is that give yourself a pat on the back. You’ve come out of this crazy year. Thought life may have left you bruised and hurt at times, I thank God for you still being here. As I said before, we don’t know what this next year will hold, but we thank God that He is always with us. You are never alone even in your deepest and darkest times. He is surrounding you.

I want to leave you with Psalms 23, which has really been encouraging me. A shepherd will keep watch over His sheep, and if the sheep gets lost, will go out and find it. When a sheep is hurt he will carry it until it gets better. The same as God. He will lead and protect you, always. You are surrounded, even when it doesn’t feel like it. You are loved, so loved.

The Lord the Shepherd of His People
A Psalm of David.
23

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the [c]still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

May God bless you! And be reminded of His love. Even if it takes reminding yourself every single day.

Have a fantastic week

~ peace, joy & love x

TK x