A Year of Gratefulness

2020 has been a year of chaos, trials and tribulations. Like every year we've all had our problems. Unlike most years our world faced a virus that shut down the global economy. No one living has ever seen anything like what COVID-19 has put our world through this year. With the pandemic came fear and confusion, public and personal crises as countries, companies and individuals faced unexpected times of unemployment, loss of income, medical bills and having to adapt to a world we didn't recognize. With all of that, this New Year might be the most anticipated that I can remember. Everyone is ready to put 2020 behind us and pray that 2021 will be a better year.

This year has brought a lot of personal challenges for me as well. There's also been a lot of really wonderful things that have happened. I started the year without a job, I'm ending it at a job I enjoy with people I love. I left a church but I also had to challenge my own beliefs and my faith was made stronger. In addition to that I've had the opportunity to listen to other churches and pastors from around the country and that's been wonderful. I've met new friends, spent time with family and got to be in one of my best friend's wedding. Being a part of her special day was definitely a highlight of my year. I started doing weekly check in's with my goddaughter and that's become something I always look forward to. Hearing about her week at school, the friends she's playing with and the things she's learning is delightful. And I know that it's building the foundation of a relationship that will get stronger with time.

Just before Christmas my grandpa wrote a Christmas letter that he sent out to a lot of friends and family. It included a list of a few things that he's grateful for. Let me share his words with you today.

"#1 Sixty-five years of marriage to my wife, Virginia. I tell people that I have married many beautiful girls, but I have only kept one."

In case you've missed previous posts Grandpa was a pastor for over sixty years. In that time he performed countless weddings so that joke has long been one of his favorites. It never fails to make me smile.

"#2 We have been blessed with five daughters who love us..."

He also listed the names of his daughters and where they all live.

"#3 We are blessed with 18 grandchildren plus 18 great-grandchildren and number 19 on its way, making a total of 36 with number 37 due in June."

I'm #12 of the grandchildren, and I'm so excited to meet my cousin's baby boy who is due in June 2021.

Grandpa went on in his letter to say that time won't permit him to list the number of ways that God has led and blessed their lives. He also encouraged others to list a few things they're grateful for.

My three for this year are simple but sincere.

#1 I'm grateful for my family. My parents are always there for me and I wouldn't know what to do without them. My grandparents are such a blessing to me and I'm grateful for the time that I get to spend with them. My sibling are people that I can be proud of. My nieces and nephews are absolutely delightful. I've been very blessed.

#2 My friends. I have a lot of friends which is a blessing in and of itself. This year I've met new friends, I've reconnected with old friends and I've been blessed with those who have known me for a long time and have always been there. They each bring something unique and wonderful to my life and I'm so grateful for them.

#3 My writing. Although both my blog and my books can inspire a great deal of frustration they also provide a creative outlet that I desperately need. Releasing my first book this year was incredibly terrifying but also rewarding. My favorite part is when people tell me it made them think about their own lives or their faith. Through my writing I can share what the Lord is teaching me, by doing so it makes those same lessons really sink into my heart and life.

So that's the last post for 2020. And for the last challenge of the year I would encourage you to write a list of at least a few things that you are grateful for. 

Also, due to some things that are coming up I'm going to take the month of January off. You know that I've been working on book #2 of the Yagos series and I need some time to focus on that. I'm hoping that 2021 will get off to a better start and I'll be back to share some things at the beginning of February. I have lots of ideas but need a time of rest before I try to write them. Until then, have a happy New Year friends!

Weary or Merry Christmas

 his morning I listened to a wonderful sermon on a live stream. Before I get into this post I just want to say how grateful I am for the gifts of technology that God has blessed us with. Although I'd really prefer to be meeting in person, the fact that I haven't found a place to call my church home has led me to listen to sermons from churches across the country. It's been amazing to hear God's word coming from different churches and pastors around the nation. It's been such a unexpected blessing!

Back to today's topic. One of the points the pastor was talking about was weariness. It's been a year where people have just felt broken down, defeated, exhausted and yes, emotionally and spiritually weary. (There's been plenty of physical weariness too but that's not what I'm talking about today.) That's made this Christmas season a very difficult time to choose joy. And yet it's a joyful season. It's the season of celebrating God's gift to us, His Son. How can we not be joyful?

The fact is that we have a choice. No matter what year it is, or day it is, or what our circumstances or what's going on in the world we are given a choice. Choose to be broken down by a world that is not our home and become weary, or choose to follow our Savior, walk in His footsteps and choose an everlasting joy.

Please understand, I'm not saying it's an easy thing to do. The decision is easy, the actions are harder. Matthew 11:29 says "Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Learning to follow in Jesus's footsteps and how to choose joy is a learning process. We have to let Him teach us. The first time you saw a long division problem in math class did you have any idea how to solve it? Probably not! You had to learn. You had to let someone teach you the step by step process and then practice it until it became a learned skill. This is a similar concept. I don't think we'll every perfect this skill this side of heaven but it will get easier. And we are not alone! The Lord is there to help us every step of the way.

Isaiah 40:31 says "But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

And Philippians 4:13 says "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."

One more, in the second half of Nehemiah 8:10, "This is a sacred day before the Lord. Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!"

Now, I admit that I'm not sure the exact context of the verse in Nehemiah but it jumped out at me because it's a great reminder as we head into this Christmas week. This is a sacred, holy time that we are celebrating. So let's celebrate! The joy of the Lord is our strength and I don't want to be weary this Christmas. I want to choose joy and have a very Merry Christmas. How about you?

Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Carols

 Christmas music is one of my very favorite parts of the season. It's one thing that is still normal this year. Even though so much is different we're still able to enjoy Christmas music. I'm one of the annoying people who can listen to Christmas music at basically any time of the year. As I've gotten older I listen to it less then I used to but every Thanksgiving the music starts up again! The radio station gets changed to an all Christmas music station. My phone fills up with Christmas song downloads and I start humming time treasured carols everywhere I go. 

This year I have a few Christmas music highlights I thought I'd share.

One of my favorite Christmas songs is "Little Drummer Boy". I know that we have no knowledge of a drummer boy being at the manger but so what? Maybe he came along with the wise men. Or he was staying at the inn because he was training with the army but was sent to Bethlehem where his family was. Or maybe he's a fictional character that was made up just write the song. Who cares? The point is the song is wonderful and this year For King and Country did a rendition that has the sweetest music video ever. I absolutely love it!

Then there's a traditional Christmas song that I didn't really understand the significance of as a child is one that has come to mean a lot to me this year is "Go Tell it on the Mountain". I first started thinking about it when my roommate mentioned that it was one of her favorites. It made me really think about the words for the first time in years. As I started pondering it I realized what a power message it has as it tells us to share this wonderful news everywhere we go. If there's one thing we can use this year it's good news. And what better news is there then the reason for Christmas?

A new Christmas song was released this year by Rend Collective. "Christmas in Killarney" is fun and quirky and absolutely delightful. It's definitely going to end up on my most played list before too long. This song embodies the nature of the album name "A Jolly Irish Christmas (Vol. 2)". It's absolutely delightful and I'm becoming more and more certain that I'm going to end up putting it on a playlist to just cheer myself up all throughout the year.

One of my old favorites that has never gone out of style is "Mary Did You Know". This wonderful, thought provoking song never fails to send chills down my spine and make me wonder about the young girl who was chosen to be the mother of our Lord. What did she know? And how did she deal with it all? There's a conversation I look forward to having when I get to heaven one day!

Third Day released a song called "Manger Throne" that I heard on the radio the other day. It talks about the wonder of a King who gave up His throne, a Lord who leaves His home, all because of his love for us. It's a really beautiful tribute.

One more old favorite is "Silver Bells". I remember my sister teaching me this song when I was a kid and to this day I loving hearing bells chime every Christmas. Even the bell ringers for the Salvation Army are one of my favorite parts of the season!

I'll finish today with another one of my favorites. "Silent Night" is almost hauntingly beautiful. The second verse is my favorite as it paints the picture of the angels appearing before the shepherds that long ago night. It really would be terrifying but oh so incredible!

What are your favorite Christmas carols? I'd love for you to drop me a note in the comments or find my author page on Facebook, just search K. L. Kirk and my page should come right up. Leave me a note on my page and share what songs will be gracing the airways of your home this holiday season. 

This Strange Christmas

I know, this is not my normal day to post. You know that I missed posting on my normal day last week. We all know that it's 2020 and unexpected and strange things happen that throw a plan off course. And although COVID has nothing to do with why I didn't get a post written last week, let's just blame it on the virus and move on shall we?

Last Spring I remember writing a post called "Silent Saturday" about how Easter didn't look anything like what I was used to but it made me focus on what was really important about the holiday. At that time I never expected things to still look so strange at Christmas. Even as I write this I'm sitting on my couch, staring and my tree and all the lights and decorations I've put up, while knowing that, although my house may look like Christmas, this holiday isn't going to look like the last few years.

Part of that is what everyone's experiencing, it's 2020, COVID is still hanging over our heads, gatherings are limited and masks are mandated. Part of it is personal. One of my brothers is in the NAVY now so he won't be home for Christmas and sadly, neither will his wife. One of my roommates got married this year so I won't be able to spend Christmas Eve or Christmas with her as I have the last couple of years. For only the second time in my entire life I don't have a church I'm involved in right now so I won't be involved in any services at my home church. (I will be attending services at the church I grew up in where my family still attends though.)

Some things look normal, some look different. I'm not exactly sure how everything will play out but I know it's going to be a strange Christmas for a lot of people. So what do you do? 

Focus on what is happening. If you're at home with family then focus on them and take some extra time as you focus on the reason for the season. Make sure your kids really know the story, take time to discuss how Joseph and Mary, the shepherds, the wise men and the innkeeper may have been feeling. If you're by yourself then read the story with fresh eyes. Maybe even try a different Bible translation to help you see it differently.

If you're able to go somewhere for Christmas then be grateful for that. It's a blessing not everyone will have. If you're at home then find a way to make it cheery even it's just a few lights or candles placed in the windows. You might not think too much of it but it might cheer up a neighbor walking by. Or send out Christmas cards! That's something that I love to get in the mail!

Give generously. There are so many people hurting financially this year. If you're able to then donate toys, food or even money to families you know or organizations or who can make sure those gifts are going where there needed. And if you can't give, that's okay! But you can smile, or speak an encouraging or friendly word, and that's just as important this year!

Finally celebrate! Start with celebrating traditions, whether this is the year you resurrect an old tradition, carry on one that never died or create a new one, find a way to celebrate a tradition. Traditions can be serious or goofy but they have a way of helping us remember. Remember why we celebrate, remember who we celebrate with or just remember the fun times we've had in the past. And even if you skip the traditions phase then you can still celebrate. Even with everything that's gone on this year we can still celebrate Christmas! Jesus is the reason for the season and that will always be worth celebrating even on this strange Christmas!