Christmas 2018 is in the books, and the beginning of another year is quickly approaching.
I’ve said it for years, that “New Year” is nothing but the flipping of the page on a calendar and I don’t really “celebrate” it, but I do get sucked in to the reflecting portion of year-end activities. I guess a lot like accounting, I assess the year and what occurred, and make very loose plans for the coming year.
2018 began normal enough, however, to a certain extent it’s changed all of us.
In 2018 our home dynamic changed, thankfully. Those changes came with challenges between our children we could not have expected. Yet, comparing June until today, we’ve come a long way. Our kids have all been stretched and tested, and overall, I can’t complain. They have chosen love over hate, many, many times. They’ve chosen patience over anger, honesty over hypocrisy, and family over themselves on multiple occasions. Do they always get it right? Of course not… but in 6 months, the adjustments that each have had to endure were as unique to them as they are individuals. I’m personally very proud of how the 4 kids have grown in such a short time. I’m not looking at what’s still left to nurture in them, I’m only observing what’s already been accomplished, and it’s only through God’s amazing grace that they are, where they are, today.
For my husband and I, we’ve had to juggle a few issues as well, probably more this last quarter than during the entire year. We’ve discussed it on multiple occasions and feel like our family and our marriage are under a spiritual attack. When one blends a family there are obstacles, obviously, but when an ex-spouse is hurtful to the person you love some things feel insurmountable. But God... Continually HIS grace is sufficient! His provision of strength, finances, and above-all LOVE has been humbling. HE continues to do exceedingly abundantly more than I can imagine. What this other person has intended for evil, God has used to further bond my husband and I. We have clung to God and one another in the face of hardship and I can’t but be grateful.
As a mom, 2018 taught me many lessons. Lessons I won’t soon forget. For instance, not to let my guard down: my kids are going through their own journeys and I need to always be at the ready to love them through some really hard stuff that they must go through.
All-in-all, if I had to sum up 2018, I’d have to borrow the sentiment from a Tale of Two Cities:
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, …
Looking ahead to 2019, if I had to prepare an emotional budget, well…
I’d seek GOD and HIS righteousness FIRST. Try my best to LOVE well and generously.
I’d pray constantly and pray for those who seek to harm me and my family.
I’d make it a point (be intentional) to celebrate the good, even if for a fleeting moment, and try my best to not keep too big an account of missteps or errors or wrong-doings. Those will happen.
I hope to continue to watch my children grow in: first, their knowledge of God and HIS will for their life, and second, their relationships with one another and my husband and I.
I have no idea what the next 12 months will hold but I do know that the singular constant in my life is the Lord. HE is steadfast and HE is my rock and salvation.