It’s been a rough start to the New Year for me. My sweet husband, for the third year in a row, is supervising a seismic project north of High Level, Alberta. He will be gone for several weeks. I miss him. Thankfully, with my adult children living close to me, and outstanding neighbours keeping watch, I am well looked after. However, a winter cough and cold since New Year’s Day, has kept me housebound and miserable.

I thought I had taken all necessary precautions. I had another Covid booster shot before Christmas and a shot that is supposed to ward off pneumonia. I meticulously wash my hands, and I try to avoid shaking hands at church. I suppose the Covid years have made me extra vigilant, but still with my compromised immunity, those nasty viruses always seem to sneak in and level me. It’s frustrating.

Today I woke up to -22 C temperatures (-7.6 F). My husband up north woke up to -40 C (-40 F). We Albertans are hearty folk, but I am thankful for a warm home on these bitterly cold days.

January is considered to be the most “depressing” month of the year. In fact one U. K. Psychologist has determined January 24th the most depressing day of the year. There’s little scientific evidence to back it up, but there is a perfect storm of factors that may contribute to understanding January’s depressing nature. We experience post-holiday let down, holiday bills coming due, less daylight, and cold winter weather. Then, of course if we listen to the first five minutes of any news report lately, we are bombarded with “bad news” about wars, violence, poor economic outlook, global climate fears, etc. etc. (I have purposefully stopped watching daily news broadcasts for my own mental well-being.) Add to all that doom and gloom a persistent cough and cold that has my body ache and feel run-down, it isn’t unusual for me to feel a little “blue”.

I don’t make New Year resolutions per se, but I have resolved to be, especially through this “blue” month, more in The Word and rest on God’s promises throughout the year. According to a Canadian school teacher Everek R. Storms, in his 27th reading of the Bible, decided to tally up all of the promises. It took him a year and a half to list 8,810 promises in total with 7,487, or about 85%, being promises given to man from God.

In 2013, I compiled 25 encouraging verses for the New Year, and I have been reading through the verses in my daily quiet time. It is not surprising that most of them are promises from God that no matter my circumstances or situations He is in control and He is with me – ALWAYS.

If the start to this New Year has you feeling a little blue, I encourage you to join me in immersing yourself in God’s Word. Rest on His promises, and experience a very Happy and Blessed New Year!