AN APPRECIATION – By Charles Schokman
Today the 24th February, I celebrate a special milestone. It is my 95th birthday, and as I reminisce about the past, I realise there is so much to be grateful for with all the blessings I have received.
Should I number them one by one it will surely surprise me what the Lord has done!
Firstly, I thank God for our journey together and for being my companion when facing life’s joys and challenges and providing me with all I need.
I am grateful to my parents for nurturing me in the love and knowledge of God.
I am thankful to my dear wife Claudette (my soul mate), daughter Fiona and son Chris for their concern, love and support and for accepting me for who I am.
I am thankful to my extended family and friends for their fellowship and for the good times we have been privileged to enjoy together collecting many happy memories. Also not forgetting the Evergreens and my email contacts. Thank you for your encouragement.
My recipe for a long life is to cultivate a heart of gratitude to God for His forgiveness, presence, strength, love and grace in every circumstance.
There have been circumstances that have shifted my focus from God and worn me down: physical ailments, illness, grief, loss, and the stress of daily life. But when I think about facing these things, I often consider them through a lens of gratitude. I thank God in advance for walking with me through these trials and for what I can learn by experiencing these situations.
Through all the changing scenes of life I acknowledge that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 and to Him I dedicate this hymn.
“Great is thy Faithfulness”.
With love,
Charles
