I honestly don't know how I got so lucky.

Really, the word lucky is not the best term to use, but blessed.

I have got an incredible family and some of the most amazing friends. Each individual and unique person brings so much importance into my life that I could never begin to explain it to its full potential.

God has blessed me abundantly and my cup is overflowing.

This absolutely does not mean that I don't have bad days. I have some of the worst of the worst. And quite frankly, if I allowed myself to speak negativity into each day I am sure that I could find one thing to complain about.

However, this isn't about those but rather the goodness of God and those He has placed in my life.

Do you ever get overwhelmed when you choose to think about the good? I know I personally get so overwhelmed at times that I find myself at a loss of words reflecting on those who love me unconditionally. Just knowing that those people are my family and friends and that they love me no matter what astounds me and puts me in a place of pure joy.

They truly never cease to make my heart so full.

You want to know a secret though?

Just like I know that I am not perfect, neither are they. They know that and I would never expect them to be. Mistakes will be made and feelings will be hurt from both sides of the party.

But love is so powerful and so strong.

Love means that we don't have to hold on to the hurt. Instead we can take some time if needed to breathe and we forgive.

I am so grateful for each precious soul Christ has placed into my life for a purpose.

I am also thankful for the ones He has placed in my life throughout the years who have come and gone for many different reasons.

At times when I have found myself upset over the loss of a friendship, and there will be those moments, I have learned to choose to reflect on the memories that will be cherished forever.

While I don't need to understand why it had to happen it is very important to trust Him in knowing that it was for a reason. That is just another reason that shows how good our Heavenly Father is and that He will always protect us. He has given us good memories to cling to in those moments of reflection which makes it much easier to let go and to let God.

In life you will have hard days and then some that are even harder than your hard days. You may feel at your weakest and like you have no hope, friends, joy, or even love.

I have these weak moments, but then I think about the goodness of Christ and the people who He placed into my life.

These are the blessings that I choose to count as I face difficulties in the next year. I will no longer allow the hurt and disappoint take aim at my heart.

God is good and He is faithful. My cup is overflowing with the multitude of love that He has given me. I pray that you also will choose to count your blessings.