FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2024 - IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR/IT WAS A VERY GOOD LIFE!!

 FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2024 - IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR (FINISHED)

I borrowed “It Was a Very Good Year” by Frank Sinatra this week as my theme.  Today will be the last day (I hope) 

"It Was a Very Good Year" is a song composed by Ervin Drake in 1961 and initially recorded by Bob Shane with the Kingston Trio.  It was made famous by Frank Sinatra's version in D minor. It won the Grammy Award for Best Male Vocal Performance in 1966 and became Sinatra's first number-one Adult Contemporary single, also peaking ...

B-side: "Moment to Moment"

Recorded: 1965  Released: December 1965

Genre: Pop

(Wikipedia)

 December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998

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Here is the fourth (last) verse:

But now the days are short; I'm in the autumn of the year

And now I think of my life as vintage wine from fine old kegs

From the brim to the dregs, and it poured sweet and clear

It was a very good year

It was a lot of good years.

*****

Sinatra died at age 82.  I’m “only” 76 - and while we are almost polar opposites, the last verse of “It Was a Very Good Year” relates to many of us.

My days are shorter (maybe not short); I’ll say I’m in the autumn of my year.  

I’ve had many fantastic memories - that could be described as “vintage wine from fine old kegs.”.

I’ll say, “God has been good to me.”  He has blessed me.    

It’s been many good years.  

*****

There is one fundamental element - attitude.  Henry Ford (founder of Ford Motor Company) said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right.” 

If my years were good, then they are good.   

*****

Coupled with attitude are verbal affirmations.  

Romans 10:9-10 says, “ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

I’m extrapolating that verse.  If you declare with your mouth that you are successful and believe in your heart that you are successful, you will be successful.  The heart determines the belief and the saying (with your mouth) that you are successful - you will be successful.

I don’t want to say negative things about myself.  If I say, “I don’t feel good,” I won’t.  

With many of the seniors I see, the temptation is to say, “I’m getting older.  I’m getting slower.  I can’t do what needs to get done.”

I have a friend who loves to say negative things.  “I’m not smarter than a fifth grader.”  Then confesses more negative things - “I have vertigo.” “I can’t lose weight,” “My bed isn’t comfortable.”, “I can understand how to work the television.”

Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

PUT GOOD THOUGHTS in your brain.  

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray continually,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

SAY POSITIVE THINGS - if you have a bad day, “GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.” Rejoice!! 

How does Genesis 1 go?  “God said, “Let there be light,” God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.”  God said, “Let us make humanity in our image

Your speech is part of our relationship with God and within ourselves.  If we say negative things - we’ll have negative results.

IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR(S)!!!

I will close with the exact version from Mr. Sinatra - because it is true!!!

But now the days are short; I'm in the autumn of the year.

And now I think of my life as vintage wine from fine old kegs.

From the brim to the dregs, and it poured sweet and clear.

It was a very good year.

(It was a very good life)

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

LOVE MAKES FOR A POSITIVE LIFE

Karen Anne White, ©, January 12, 2024