When 2019 ends in a few days, it won't just be the end of a YEAR but of a DECADE. And, I gave some thought to how my life has changed since January 1st of 2010, and how God has BLESSED me in spite of many trials.
On January 1st, 2010, I was still hurting from the death of my dad one week earlier. Beth, my first wife, and I were living in North Jersey, her two elderly parents were living with us, and one of our three kids, my son JOEL, was still living at home. We had no Grandchildren at that point but in March, God gave us our first GRANDSON, Christopher.
My business of 31 years was struggling and I was hoping that Barack Obama would be voted OUT of office in 2012, as I blamed his attacks on entrepreneurs for my decline, but that did not happen...he was re-elected. If Donald Trump ran and got elected in 2012 like he was in 2016, I'd probably STILL BE IN BUSINESS until this coming February, when I turn 65!! But as you will see, it all worked out as God wanted, I wouldn't be where I am today if NOT for things unfolding as they did. Back to the past...my Father-in-Law went Home to Heaven in 2011 and in 2013, I went OUT of business, retired early, and my wife and I (and my Mother-in-Law) moved to Central Jersey...Joel stayed behind and got married.
My Mother-in-Law died in 2014 and a few months later BETH began a two-year struggle with Cancer which sent her Home, in early 2017. So seven years after the decade began, Beth and my In-Laws, who I lived with to BEGIN the decade, were in Heaven and I was "alone," far from the area of New Jersey I had lived almost all of my life. However, I was once again joined to an EXCELLENT church and had THAT support system, as well as that of my three (saved) children.
Today, as the decade ENDS in a few days I have remarried a WONDERFUL wife, Mercedes, and I have two step-children from that second marriage to go with my three CHILDREN and now FIVE Grandchildren (another one due in June 2020.) Retirement has afforded me time to say "Yes" when the Pastor asked me to take the Men's Sunday School a few years ago and when the church called me to be a Deacon early THIS year. In short, my life has been totally re-directed by God's Providences since 2010 but that's what He PROMISED He would do for His children....GUIDE us. In February 2020, Lord Willing, as I said I will OFFICIALLY be a Senior when I turn 65 and I'm a little nervous about THAT...but God WILL be faithful in the FUTURE as He HAS been in the past. I have had NO major health crises in my life but more than likely, I will at SOME point before I go to Heaven by God's Grace. If God can get me through being a widower and losing my cherished business, He can bless me through bad health IF it comes to me.
And that's why it's good to remember His PAST mercies and that, as a famous hymn says, He IS "Our God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come"!! As another great hymn says, "in all life's changes faithful He will remain." Amen!!
No comments:
Post a Comment