The Tribune

By Allison Miller

IT is a good thing to be alive on this new day in this new year. It is with great excitement I say to you, “Happy New Year!” May God bless you with His choice blessings in the coming year.

I have a wonderful testament to share with you today. As the new year was rung in I witnessed a very encouraging and uplifting conversation between friends – a man and woman – I know.

The woman asked the man how he had spent his Christmas, and his answer was an eye-opener and a wonderful reminder of God’s goodness towards us.

His response was: “Christmas was great! I spent it with my children and grandchild. It was wonderful to spend that time with them.

God has been good to me, and as many things that could have gone wrong, I am grateful that they did not. I have no complaints. I am just grateful to be here in the land of the living.

Hearing this, I thought to myself, “What a testimony of gratitude!”

Some of us take for granted that we wake up every morning. I was really encouraged to come into this brand new year not knowing what it holds. Nevertheless, I go with the one who holds our future. I think that is a vital mindset for all of us to have. 2017 will defiantly have an impact on all of us, and regardless of what happens, we can all be assured that God knows what He is doing.

For some of us the year has started off rough, but take solace in the fact that nothing lasts forever and better days are ahead.

We have to hold fast to God. He will see us through whatever we will go through. I was really encouraged by this man’s testament of God’s goodness to him in the previous year.

It reminded me that regardless of any situation that doesn’t give us the results we are looking for, we are to be grateful.

Without knowing what will happen this year, I look forward to all the possibilities and to learning whatever lesson I am to learn. Be encouraged and let’s go through 2017 with a positive mindset.

May we all have a great year!