I hope the first few days of 2022 has treated you well.
First of all, forgive me. I’m behind. Here it is, January 6, and I haven’t wished you a Happy New Year yet.
I have a good excuse, however. COVID visited our family for Christmas, and some of us are still feeling the effects of it.
For me, the biggest challenges are the fatigue and the brain fog.
Brain fog doesn’t go well with writing, speaking, and grief coaching. Prayers would be appreciated!
As grieving people, we know all about brain fog, don’t we? Ugh…
Second, allow me to officially greet you in 2022.
Having said that, I must admit that “Happy New Year” has never resonated well with me.
“Happy” just doesn’t seem to to fit.
Peaceful. Blessed. Healing. Hopeful. I like those words better.
Overcoming. I like that word the best.
So much of life is about overcoming.
So much of life is about living with grief, moving through our grief, and using our grief as fuel for good.
So much of life is about facing obstacles and difficulties and finding new strength and courage in the midst of them.
So much of life seems to be about learning to live above and beyond all that happens to us and around us.
I find myself thinking of Psalm 3:5-6. Listen to this:
“I lie down and sleep; I wake again because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.”
In this Psalm, King David finds himself betrayed by his own son, surrounded by enemies, and fleeing for his life.
Sometimes, it can seem like everything is against us. We can feel hemmed in. Stuck. Trapped. Frightened. Paralyzed.
We tend to stare at what’s right in front of us. We can get lost in the “what seems to be” and all the “what ifs.”
King David’s heart had been well trained over the years. He knew how to handle grief, hardship, failure, difficulty, opposition, betrayal, and potential disaster.
I can almost see David breathing deeply, closing his eyes for a moment, and reminding himself of what he knew to be true.
“I lie down and sleep; I wake again because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.”
What do you hear in King David’s words? Is there anything there that can be an encouragement to you today?
Here’s to an Overcoming 2022. One moment, one step at a time.
Until next time,
Gary
P.S. If there’s anything I can do for you, please let me know. I look forward to serving and supporting you in 2022. I’m glad we’re in this together.
Thanks so much for those inspiring words! Touched me immensely! I needed them today! Gail
Hi Gail. You are welcome!
We allow ourselves time to grieve. We still try to encourage one person a day to lift up their head to God. He’s the only one to comfort us!!…Nobody else can bring us peace like God Almighty.
Hi J. You are so right! Thanks for commenting!
You are so right! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Gary!! I have gifted copies of your new book to several people this Christmas and I refer to your words and your work quite frequently with my grief and loss recovery clients in my Coaching and End of Life Doula work. Thank you so much for all you do!!
Hi Linde. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. And thank you for all your support. Thank you for your compassion and care for others. We need more like you out there! Blessings…
Happy New Year. Sorry to hear your family was hit by covid. Myself and my family too all had covid as of Christmas day. We are on the mend. Hopefully you and your family are feeling better. Hopefully this is not a sign of what 2022 is going to be. Well it’s always in God’s hands and I must trust in him. Take care and speedy recovery. Blessings for a healthy happy prosperous new year.
Hi Grace. Thanks for commenting. I agree! We are all much better now, thankfully. And yes, things are always in God’s hands – thank goodness. Blessings to you.
Gary – My prayer is for you and all in your family affected by COVID to recover quickly and totally. Thank you for the ministry you provide through your service for our Lord.
Blessings always,
Pastor Dave Adams
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church – Highland, IN
Hi Pastor Dave. Thanks so much for your prayers! Thankfully, we are all much better. And thank you for your kindness. The Lord used you to encourage me today. Thanks for your ministry!
Thank you Gary!!! Praying for healing for you and your family. Covid is no joke.
Hi Mary. Thanks for your prayers! We are all much better now, thankfully. Thank you!
Overcoming!!! Perfect way to think of the new year. So much has happened and is happening that need to be overcome in our lives. Thank you for the perspective.
Hi Vangie. Thanks for commenting! Here’s to more overcoming…
Thank you , for the encouraging words.
Hi Dayle. Thanks for encouraging me! Blessings….
New and looking forward
Hi Scott. Great perspective. Here we go… Blessings to you.
Hi, Gary. I don’t have a way to express how I feel except,”Glad to be here for 2022.” Happy New Year doesn’t do it for me either. Sorry your family had Covid. One good thing is that now you are naturally protected! Bright side if there is one. This year is a continuation from last year for me/us/family. We haven’t quite gotten to the “happy” yet. Cancer stage 4 entered the mix for my daughter-in-law’s mother. They both are still grieving the death/suicide by hanging of her son/grandson who was 11 y/o in 2019. Still very fresh. My daughter in law just had brain surgery at Oschner’s in Nov. 2021. (Seizures) It has been ongoing for us all. I can only live one day at a time. Lorri even had a close call last Fall 2021 with attempted suicide. She put a loaded gun to her head and my son, her husband, disarmed here. She went into a mental facility for a little while. They were not very kind or helpful she said during her stay. Anyway, all I can say is so much water flowing under our bridge lately. I am trying to stay sane. I have two other things simultaneous going on too. One son going through a divorce who has a toddler in an interracial marriage with an abusive spouse. Then my youngest son suffers from alcoholism/drug addiction as a result of being abused by a damn priest at age 9. He is now 27 years old. He works very hard at getting his life together. My husband has MCI ( mild cognitive impairment) but not Alzheimers. He is active after a TAVR procedure last year and we try to stay healthy and take care of ourselves and each other. Life is hard. Life has ebbs and flows. Life can be crazy. I am a believer in God so I cling to this. Your message came at a good time. Anyway, thank you.
Hello Carol. Thank you for sharing. Oh my. What a continual ordeal. One thing after another. For some people – for all of us on some level – life is a war. Ugh. Thank goodness for your faith. Thankfully, Jesus knows – He’s endured it all and been there. Praying for you now. Please be kind to yourself and patient with yourself. Blessings…
May God bless you this coming year, as you have blessed me. Praying Covid effects leave you soon.
Hi Melissa. Thank you! Thankfully, we’re all much better and recovered. Blessings to you today…
Good morning Gary, I know what it’s like to have Covid. I had it a year ago last November, and 4 days later my grandson got it from me. I remember the fatigue and brain fog, the misery in general that we felt, would never want to have it again, so I feel for you and your family. God Bless You All and Happy New Year!!!
Hi Sandy. Thanks for sharing this and for your prayers. I’m glad to say we’re all recovered at this point. Thanks again for your kindness and concern. Here we go into 2022. Blessings to you…
Thanks so much for this message. I needed to hear these encouraging words today.
I will pray for you and your family to bring full healing.
Hi Anita. Thank you for your prayers. We’re nicely recovered, we think! Glad we’re all in this together. Blessings to you today, Anita.