It's easy to be grateful when you have a ridiculous number of things to be grateful for

I give thanks every day for these people.

U.S. Thanksgiving was a month ago, but I tend to focus more on gratitude now than in late November.

I guess that's what the impending arrival of January 1st does for you. It's a good time to look back on the year that was, the year that will be, everything you've said and done, and the people you're fortunate to have around you.

It may sound strange, but this is an embarrassing exercise for me.

"Embarrassing" because I am blessed almost beyond reason. Actually no, not even almost. I am blessed far beyond what I deserve.

In all the things that matter, my cup overflows. I have done nothing to deserve this, yet here we are.

The people who truly impress me are those who keep on going despite trying circumstances. Whether it's health difficulties, financial troubles, the sudden loss of loved ones, the breakup of a marriage, or any number of the unfortunate things that befall us in life, I know so many who soldier on.

I admire them. They are heroes.

I have day-to-day struggles, I suppose, but nothing – nothing – like so many of the people in my circle have experienced or are experiencing.

I don't know how I would react if I were in their shoes. Probably not as well as they have, I can tell you that.

Every week at church, we compile a Prayer Request & Praise Report. The prayer request part, as you might imagine, lists church members, family and friends who are experiencing some form of adversity. Sometimes it's medical, other times something else.

I'm working to improve my health, but at the moment I have nothing wrong with me that causes any real difficulties. My heart and lungs work fine, my body does all the things I ask of it, my mind is still (somewhat) sharp, and I have no chronic pain of any sort.

Sometimes I think God put me in this position because He knows I am someone who would have trouble dealing with the things that plague those on the Prayer Request & Praise Report. For the moment, anyway, He shields me from all of this because He knows my weakness.

As I've often said, all of that can change on a dime. I'm not going to continue sailing smoothly through the rest of my life with nothing bad happening.

But things have been so good for so long that sometimes I forget that's not necessarily the natural state of things for human beings. Especially those not born into affluent societies with social safety nets or into loving families that support one another.

Until things take a turn, I'm going to continue being grateful because it's easy for someone like me to be grateful. Why wouldn't I be grateful?

The trick (the hope) is that I can maintain that gratitude if/when the rain starts falling a little harder.

Happy new year to you. I hope you, too, have much for which to be grateful in this life.