Faith, Hope and Blessings

Dear Editor:

I’m very thankful and appreciative for the opportunity to volunteer at a night shelter on Christmas day. It was a bitter-sweet experience; however, the residents showed me love, kindness and most of all their strong hearts and spirits in the midst of a ‘hard’ season of their lives. They are waiting for new season, new inspirations, desires and goals.

As Guyanese, we must believe that change doesn’t come without testing(s) and sacrifice. Giving and serving in a voluntary capacity are unique blessings. If you have lost your sense of giving for a greater good, plan to restart small acts of kindness from January. Some ideas to achieve mission are: working on restoring relationships, ending extreme poverty, fighting injustices and transforming lives. You can begin a prayer hub or circle, lead and/or participate in spiritual sessions of prayer and maintain your own spiritual development, discover your gifts/callings and grow in discipleship.

As you have received or you are waiting patiently for the monies promised from God’s oil resources, I offer you a few helpful tips on personal, business, and investment.

Personal

1. Tithe (give to your local church or someone in need)
2. Bless your mother and father or guardian parents
3. Bless your children or someone else’s children
4. Open a bank account or ask the bank about other money portfolio accounts (i.e IRAs)
5. Get married; work together to build a home, a community and a country
6. Clean up your environs and the community

Budgeting

1. Create and manage a budget
2. Start with your basic bills and pay off small debts first
3. Know what monies are incoming and outgoing
4. Live below your means and not above it
5. Save your monies (put it in a bank account to earn interest)
6. Have at least a 3 months emergency fund stashed away

Business and Investment

1. Create a business or find a business to invest in. Customers will always return to places with exceptional customer service skills.
2. Spot new business ideas based on consumer needs
3. What about starting a poetry, art or music school?
4. Can you invest in teas, milk, juices, coconut water, oils, etc.?
5. Take a look at skills development, STEM and robotics

Areas that stymie our growth and development: loss of motivation, mental health issues, stress, anxiety, alcoholism, drug abuse, controlling others, anger, etc.

Areas that promote our growth and development: good time and communication management, order and organisation, attentiveness, focus, collaborative opportunities, self-care, reading new books, exercising, choosing supportive friends, eating healthy, etc.

Give thanks for everything accomplished or not accomplished for 2024 and get ready for 2025. Make your list of goals, dreams and desires. Always remember that for every achievement, there’s a price; and for every triumph, there’s sacrifice.

Yours truly,

Dr. Denise Murray