I hope you and yours had a beautiful Thanksgiving. There is nothing better than bringing family, friends, and food together for good times. It is also a time to reflect on thankfulness. Looking back over the year, we can see the ups and downs and how we handled situations thrown our way. When I do this, the bottom line for me is that I always thank God for what He has done.

I thank Him for His presence in my life. For leading and guiding me. For giving me wisdom. How do we get through our daily lives without the Spirit of the Lord? I know that I can’t, so I trust Him to be with me.

Sometimes life can be messy. Other times amazing. All the time, God is there.

Years ago, when my daughter was very ill and I had no idea what the outcome of her illness would be, there was one scripture the Lord spoke to my heart over and over again.

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

I clung to that scripture. Today, when I hear the words or think about the scripture, it brings tears to my eyes. God knew what the outcome of that season would be, and he walked beside me the entire way. My daughter is in heaven and still, God has never left me because I needed Him. I still need him every day.

We serve a God who cares about our lives; from the big issues, to, for me, getting through writing deadlines. Life has challenges and wins. Through it all, we are never alone, and that makes me thankful.

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Look for her next Harlequin Heartwarming romance, HER SURPRISE HOMETWON MATCH, available March 2023. For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks. Sign up for Tara’s Newsletter.