By Brenda Cannon Henley
Been reading New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day traditions and suggestions from my many friends and some from those I do not know at all. Some are very good. Others are very funny. And, a few are unbelievable. I do consider the ending of one year and the beginning of another a time of reflection, planning, thinking, and perhaps changing my mind on some things.

The traditional meal seems to include black-eyed peas, cabbage, and maybe ham, and for sure, cornbread. Now, that sounds mighty good to me. I am a Georgia southern girl at heart and love the peas and beans as long as they are flavored well with meat and seasonings. This meal is touted to bring good luck, happiness, and lots of money. I like the sound of that.

One of the things that I have come to think about as a year ends is how many family members and dear friends we have lost in the past twelve months or so. In my own immediate family, our losses are great. My husband died in August of 2014, my brother, John, on August 12th in 2015, my second brother, James, on the exact same day, August 12th in 2016, and my brother in law, Eric, on August 2nd in 2017. Too many – too quickly. The odd thing about my list that the funeral home director in Georgia, a man I had known for a long while, told me he had personally never heard of siblings dying on the exact same day one year apart from each other.

I spent some time going through my worn address book and marking through names of those no longer living on earth. It amazed me when I finished my chore. We have lost a lot of people. My heart remembered what a dear friend and fellow writer, Jennifer King Moody, wrote me after Ted died. She penned, “You have lost a lot, Brenda, and you will grieve, but you also have a lot left, and you will need to remember that.” Those words have helped me more than Jennifer might ever realize.

We also had aunts, cousins, long time friends and others pass away as well. But, one thing I want to remember is that we also had a bevy of new births. Precious nieces and nephews and friends’ children came into this world and brought joy in our hearts and plans for the future. There is just something about a new life beginning and tired old grandparents line those nursery hall windows, oohing and gooing, and declaring exactly whom the little red wrinkled baby resembles most.

One thing I like to do and find it most encouraging is to sit down and list all the blessings that I can remember that the dear Lord has brought into my life during the past twelve months. This year I can add some new ones. I had a stroke in July, but thank God, it was a very mild one and few people can tell the difference. An added blessing was the Lord allowed my sister to travel from Georgia to be with me as I made my way through the maze of doctor visits, testings, and treatment. She is far more knowledgeable than I am about medical matters and was a big help. I also prayed and asked God to help me sell my home and He did. I simply did not feel I could keep it up and care for the two acres of grass, and I did not need the space. I asked about some travel and got to make several fun trips. I love to read and many good books came my way without cost. A woman hit my car, but I was not hurt in any way and the car could be repaired rather easily. My grandchildren are all safe and reasonably happy. My son’s church is prospering and doing well. I have made a multitude of new friends and been able to help in several areas.

I have found that as long as I can focus on the good and right things in my life, I can be grateful and productive. Just as we pass our heritage down from generation to generation, let’s remember to tell others what the Lord has done for us. “Each generation tells of Your faithfulness to the next.” (Isaiah 38:19) I believe the Lord is honored when we remember His goodness to us.

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788, or
[email protected].

[1-1-2018]