Kept

Another birthday and yet more conscious of “ It’s by your mercy Lord that I have another day to live” - something I try to include in my prayers a lot. The older I get there is ever more reason to be grateful that I am still here, that the Lord has preserved me - not least from my own foolishness, that I have much to look back on with satisfaction, and much to look forward to in merry and hope-filled expectation. All this is another way I suppose of counting my blessings. But I mean more than that: I am aware of the Lord’s kindly pursuit of me, of his involving interest in me, and that my life is hid with Christ in God. None of this means that bad things haven’t happened or won’t happen. It does mean however that I am more and more ready to trust - I feel such a debtor to grace. Here are some lines from an old hymn that I testify to: “All the way my Saviour leads me, What have I to ask beside? Can I doubt his tender mercy Who through life has been my guide? Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, Here by him in faith to dwell; For I know, whate’er befall me Jesus doeth all things well; For I know, whate’er befalls me, Jesus doeth all things well.”