I am sure we have all had joys and pains as we’ve journeyed through this past year. But hopefully, the joy in your life has outweighed the pain.
One thing that has kept me is the love of God and knowing that He is with me continuously. Being able to talk with Him at any time and place has been my lifeline. His love never fails.
As many of you know, my mom passed away back in January, so 2023 has been a year of experiencing many “firsts without mom,” including this Christmas. Although it has not been easy, I’ve continued to learn a lot about the faithfulness of God and His unfailing love for me. He is our Rock.
Psalm 18:2 GWT, “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my Savior, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the strength of my salvation, my stronghold.”
I am also grateful for the love of family and friends and all the encouragement I have received from our WordPress community. The words in your posts and your comments inspire me! Please keep writing!
And lastly, I did not want the year to end without mentioning the beautiful and peaceful country of Costa Rica. 🇨🇷
My daughter and I visited Costa Rica in August. We enjoyed ourselves. There was delicious fresh food and friendly people. If you have never visited before, I hope you get to. Honestly, I didn’t want to leave.
We also had adventures like viewing waterfalls, seeing volcanoes, relaxing in the hot springs, bike riding, horse riding, and spending time at the beach.
We met some interesting people (especially at the beach). There are too many encounters to mention, but I will say that I met a few solo female travelers, including a teacher from Germany who was there taking advantage of her long summer vacation. She said we were the first Americans she had met so far.
My favorite solo female traveler was a 75 year old lady by the name of Ms. Apostolopoulos (cool Greek name). Although she was born in Greece, she is now a U.S. citizen. She was visiting Costa Rica for the first time. We talked for a couple of hours and the time flew by. I thought it was courageous of her to make the trip alone. I saw tears in her eyes as she spoke about how much she missed her mom; I could relate. But, I also saw tears as she spoke of her abusive ex-husband, who she said almost took her life twice. I think I’ll never forget her. It’s a privilege to meet people and hear their stories.
Hearing my daughter converse in Spanish with the locals was also a treat. Her Spanish-speaking skills impress me. The locals were impressed, too; they wanted to know how she learned to speak their language so well.
I’m thankful I was blessed to visit Costa Rica. It was indeed one of my joys this year! I also visited Luray Caverns in Luray, Virginia, back in May. A place I’ve wanted to go to since I was younger. I finally made it to the cave!
As you reflect on God’s goodness, the lessons you have learned, the accomplishments you have had, or the challenges you have faced in 2023, I pray that the Holy Spirit will fill your heart with peace, joy, and strength for the new year ahead.
Father,
I pray for each person who reads this. May they sense your presence as they go about their day. Comfort them with your peace and heal any pain. Remind them of your faithfulness and love. Thank you for who you are to us. And thank you for all you do for us. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Psalm 127:1 ESV,“The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.”
Drawing Closer to Christ 