More from Estelle Hopkins

I wrote my devotional “Diving deeper” about seven years ago but never got round to submitting it. Our situation has changed since then.

At that time, having the time and freedom as retirees, my husband and I visited our newly acquired home in Cyprus for a month or two at a time, to facilitate visits to our son in the UK and traveling around Europe. However, in March 2020 a supposed six-week stay turned into nearly a two-year stay, as the COVID-19 lockdowns hit us. During that time we discovered the joy of island life—daily summer swims in the warm Mediterranean waters, making new friends, growing plenty of fruit and vegetables, and discovering new places just beyond our doorstep. And so happened our permanent relocation from Cape Town to Paphos—not pre-planned by us but a wonderful adventure now that we are in our late 70’s.

Sadly, the ocean is not what it was seven years ago. Although I have never again been in the center of a circle of fingerlings, there are still schools of tiny fish around. However, many of the other little multi-colored fish have either disappeared entirely or are seen much less frequently. I am now very excited when I see some fish that I took for granted seven years ago. I appreciate them so much more.

This makes me think of how many of God’s blessings I take for granted, just as part of normal life. I have decided to be more intentional about noticing and thanking God for God’s many blessings—not just the spectacular ones that take my breath away but the ordinary, everyday ones too. Every morning a new day dawns; a pretty little flower grows out of the paving where there is no soil; I pluck a fresh tomato from my garden; I can access a reliable car to take me where I want to go; the roof over my head keeps the elements out; my friends accept me with all my foibles; my husband cares about even my little needs; I have good health. I can go on and on—my blessings know no end.

My husband and I are truly enjoying our golden years, but I know there are many people who find becoming older very challenging. Physical, financial and relationship challenges sometimes become overwhelming. However, through the hard times I have experienced in the past, I have learned that I can always find something to be grateful to God for, no matter bleak the day was. 

I would like to encourage everyone who feels weighed down by the cares of life to get a diary and, at bedtime every evening, write down one thing they found during the day to be grateful for. Sometimes we might think there is nothing at all to be grateful for, but there is always something to write down, to be grateful for, and to praise God for. Cultivating an attitude of gratitude and never neglecting to praise God for our blessings lifts our spirit and eventually makes all the difference in the world.

May God open our spiritual eyes to see the God’s manifold blessings and wonders.