Thankful Thursday: Scotland, MS & Freshly Pressed!

Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club…

Hi Friends.

Well, it’s been absolutely manic since my last blog post! Between travelling to Scotland for the first time with my lovely wife Sarah, attending an MS Society legacy event at the stunning Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club in Edinburgh, and weeks packed with one thing after another, life has been pretty frantic. But amidst all the busyness, there have been some really special moments to be thankful for. And just when we finally managed to press pause and enjoy a couple of nights away together at Wotton House in Surrey, God had a rather unexpected surprise waiting for me!

Edinburgh, MS Society and Haggis Bon Bons… 😋

One of the highlights of the past few weeks was travelling to Edinburgh with Sarah, who works as the MS Society’s Legacies Lead. It was my first time visiting Scotland, and getting there involved around seven hours of travelling on two trains and a tube train. Quite an adventure for the ‘Blind Sightseers’! The event itself was a wonderful experience, giving me the opportunity to meet some amazing guests, listen to their personal stories and hear about the difference that the MS Society makes to people’s lives. There was such a lovely atmosphere, with people sharing their experiences and connecting over something that means so much to them.

One particularly special moment came at the end of the talks, when Sarah played the MS Society Legacy video that I was fortunate enough to be part of. It was quite something to sit there knowing that my own personal story in memory of my Mum was being shared with everyone in the room. During lunch, people came over to talk to me about the video, ask questions and thank me for taking part. It was genuinely touching to hear how much it had engaged them, and it reminded me why sharing our personal experiences can be so powerful. And, of course, lunch deserves a mention of its own because, wow, I got to try haggis bon bons, and they were absolutely fantastic! Who knew that one of my first Scottish experiences would include discovering a new favourite food? After such a special event, meeting lovely people and enjoying some proper Scottish hospitality, Sarah and I were ready for a little breathing space, which finally came with two nights at the beautiful Wotton House.

“Welcome to Wotton House”…

What a wonderful place! We spent three days enjoying the grounds and surroundings of this amazing estate, staying in a lovely room overlooking the rear gardens, enjoying great food and, best of all, having time to relax.

Sarah went swimming (I’m still banned for life after our Martinique Adventure in 2018), which was fantastic to see. She works so hard, and knowing she could unwind and enjoy herself made me especially thankful. The place was beautiful, peaceful and felt a world away from everyday life. We could almost have been anywhere in the world! Sometimes, the greatest luxury isn’t going somewhere far away or doing something extraordinary. It’s simply having time together, enjoying good food, resting and appreciating the blessings right in front of us.

“Freshly Pressed”…?

Now, here’s where things get weird! As we were leaving for Wotton House and preparing to slow down, I received an email from WordPress. The subject? “Your site has been selected for Freshly Pressed!” My first thought was, “Freshly what?!” I’d never experienced this before, so I wasn’t entirely sure what it meant. The email explained that WordPress had selected my post, Motivational Musical Monday: iWalk 3.48 miles, to feature in its Freshly Pressed showcase, sharing it with a wider WordPress.com audience. Apparently, they loved my writing and wanted to share it with the world. I certainly didn’t expect that!

It actually takes me right back to July 2012, when iChristian began. I’d stood at the front of church and shared my testimony with the congregation, who were amazed by what I’d been through and loved hearing my story. Their response? To more or less strong-arm me into writing it all down on WordPress so others could read it too!

And here I am, fourteen years later, a blind man sitting in his little room at home, sharing my faith and testimony with people around the world. Who knew that a little nudge at church would lead to all this?

And then…

Just as life started to slow down, my blog absolutely exploded! As I’m typing this, that post has reached 120 likes and is still climbing! My phone has been blinging away with notifications as lovely people have been liking, commenting on my post and following iChristian. I’ve had such a wonderful response, and I’m genuinely thankful for every single person who’s taken the time to stop by, read something I’ve written and say hello.

The funny thing is that all you lovely new readers have arrived just as I’ve barely had time to blog for a few weeks! You spend ages writing and publishing posts, then the moment you finally take a little break, WordPress decides to give you a bigger audience! LOL! I’m absolutely stunned and humbled though, and I never want to take that kindness for granted. Welcome to all my new followers, and thank you to everyone who’s been part of this little adventure. You’ve made me smile more times than I can count. 😀

Scripture snack… 

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

As a Christian, I believe that thankfulness isn’t just about celebrating the big moments. It’s about recognising God’s goodness in the everyday. Sometimes He gives us opportunities we never expected, sometimes He gives us the rest we desperately need, and sometimes He uses something as simple as a blog post about a walk to connect us with people we might never otherwise have met. I don’t know where all these new connections will lead, but I’m grateful for every one of them.

Another Scripture Snack…

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16

Give thanks…🙏 

I love this reminder that thankfulness belongs right at the heart of our Christian lives. Whether we’re travelling across the country, relaxing somewhere beautiful, writing a blog post or connecting with someone new, we have reasons to give thanks. And when we share our stories, encourage one another and point people towards Christ, even ordinary moments can become opportunities to glorify Him.

So, friends, here’s my question for this Thankful Thursday: What are you thankful for today? Perhaps it’s a holiday, a little time to rest, a loved one who makes you smile, an unexpected blessing or simply the kindness of someone who takes the time to encourage you. Whatever it is, I hope you’ll pause for a moment and give thanks.

As for me, I’m thankful for Scotland, Wotton House, precious time with Sarah, the opportunity to slow down, and a WordPress surprise that has left me grinning from ear to ear! Most of all, I’m thankful for God’s goodness, for the people He brings into our lives, and for the privilege of sharing my faith and experiences with all of you.

And to my lovely new readers, welcome to the iChristian family! I promise I’ll be back with more posts as soon as life gives me a moment to catch my breath. Until then, thank you for reading, commenting, liking and following. You really are a blessing.

Let’s Keep Walking in Faith Together!