Hope
I hope that 2013 is a better year for all of us. I mean that. It's been a divisive year in our country, in our politics, and I can't help but think that a lot of that spills over into our relationships as well. I'm hoping that spirit can change. I'm always hopeful, though, and really want to believe the best in people. Often, I'm disappointed, though.
I'm not heartbroken to see 2012 go. A lot of bad stuff happened. My friend lost his wife this year, and that left a bit of a hole in the lives of all who knew her. My old boss passed away, too. We'd drifted apart over the years, but it's always sad to know that a person is gone. My wish for 2013 for these folks' families is that their grief is subsided a little bit. Sometimes, though, there are wounds that time just can't seem to heal.
I have hope for good things because I know Jesus. As I look back at 2012, I know I only got through it because He lifted me up, and I'm sure on the timeline of my life, I'll see some heel prints in the metaphorical sand where Jesus drug me to places I didn't want to go. At the start of 2012, I knew what I was going to do. God had other ideas for me, and the end of 2012 finds me in a similar situation that the start of 2012 did. What I have now is the grace to handle that situation and handle it differently than I would have if left to my own devices.
2012 was a difficult year. I can't deny that. For me though, it was a year of growth and learning. The struggles of the year, and there were many, seemed to have a large blessing attached. Among them, I'm still in my home, I still have a job, and my health is pretty good overall. Reconciliation with two of my children was a Christmas blessing and I can't tell you how happy I am about that. I love my kids. I've missed them, but one thing I've learned is that sometimes the best thing you can do is give time and space to people.
Another blessing is that the basement will be remodeled. The last thing I was thinking about when I saw all that eeewwww was that there would be blessings. There were struggles, but God got me through them without flipping out too badly. I owe all that to Him. It seems that sewers backing up can lead to all sorts of unexpected blessings.
I still have Bucket too, but that came at a cost. He's worth it. I heard the actual story of what Bucket did when my father-in-law fell in his yard. You may remember, Buck went to see mommy and wound up with grandpa. Grandpa fell one day and had a hard time getting up. Bucket dragged him by his coat collar from the garden to next to the house and kept him warm until he could get up on his own. When I say he's a wondermutt, you now can take that seriously. That dumb dog of mine is a bigger blessing than anyone can know.
2012 led to new friendships and a growing friendship. I learned the value of a cup of coffee in 2012 and it's a blessing I'll never forget. Sometimes, what we take for granted can be so much more to someone who doesn't have the luxury of taking it for granted. 2012 taught me to give thanks in all circumstances and I know it's hard to see sometimes, but God is good!
I can't end this without talking about my Redskins. Sometimes it pays off to hang in there over the tough years, and there's something special happening in Washington, D.C. Two of the four best rookies in professional football put on a show last night and my 'Skins are finally headed for the playoffs. Hope has grown into reality in D.C. At least in sports.
I have hope that 2013 will be a better year than 2012 was. That hope is in God and His perfect plan for my life. I have no idea how things are going to shake out, but I do know how they're not. To get there, I had to accept that God's no meant no.
Again, lesson learned.
Hope is an amazing thing. At the foot of my bed, the dog and the cat are curled up and taking a nap together. The cat is smiling. Talk about loving your enemy....
I've learned more about that from pets than I could ever hope to from watching humans act. I hope I've put that into practice in my life. Again, not always easy, but always the right thing to do.
Well, that's all for today. I hope you're invoking the 10-10 rule for amateur night. That's the wherever you are at ten p.m., you should be at ten a.m. Don't drive. Too many idiots out the.
I hope each of you has a blessed 2013 and that if your resolutions involve going back to church, that this is the year you keep that resolution.
Happy New Year!
I'm not heartbroken to see 2012 go. A lot of bad stuff happened. My friend lost his wife this year, and that left a bit of a hole in the lives of all who knew her. My old boss passed away, too. We'd drifted apart over the years, but it's always sad to know that a person is gone. My wish for 2013 for these folks' families is that their grief is subsided a little bit. Sometimes, though, there are wounds that time just can't seem to heal.
I have hope for good things because I know Jesus. As I look back at 2012, I know I only got through it because He lifted me up, and I'm sure on the timeline of my life, I'll see some heel prints in the metaphorical sand where Jesus drug me to places I didn't want to go. At the start of 2012, I knew what I was going to do. God had other ideas for me, and the end of 2012 finds me in a similar situation that the start of 2012 did. What I have now is the grace to handle that situation and handle it differently than I would have if left to my own devices.
2012 was a difficult year. I can't deny that. For me though, it was a year of growth and learning. The struggles of the year, and there were many, seemed to have a large blessing attached. Among them, I'm still in my home, I still have a job, and my health is pretty good overall. Reconciliation with two of my children was a Christmas blessing and I can't tell you how happy I am about that. I love my kids. I've missed them, but one thing I've learned is that sometimes the best thing you can do is give time and space to people.
Another blessing is that the basement will be remodeled. The last thing I was thinking about when I saw all that eeewwww was that there would be blessings. There were struggles, but God got me through them without flipping out too badly. I owe all that to Him. It seems that sewers backing up can lead to all sorts of unexpected blessings.
I still have Bucket too, but that came at a cost. He's worth it. I heard the actual story of what Bucket did when my father-in-law fell in his yard. You may remember, Buck went to see mommy and wound up with grandpa. Grandpa fell one day and had a hard time getting up. Bucket dragged him by his coat collar from the garden to next to the house and kept him warm until he could get up on his own. When I say he's a wondermutt, you now can take that seriously. That dumb dog of mine is a bigger blessing than anyone can know.
2012 led to new friendships and a growing friendship. I learned the value of a cup of coffee in 2012 and it's a blessing I'll never forget. Sometimes, what we take for granted can be so much more to someone who doesn't have the luxury of taking it for granted. 2012 taught me to give thanks in all circumstances and I know it's hard to see sometimes, but God is good!
I can't end this without talking about my Redskins. Sometimes it pays off to hang in there over the tough years, and there's something special happening in Washington, D.C. Two of the four best rookies in professional football put on a show last night and my 'Skins are finally headed for the playoffs. Hope has grown into reality in D.C. At least in sports.
I have hope that 2013 will be a better year than 2012 was. That hope is in God and His perfect plan for my life. I have no idea how things are going to shake out, but I do know how they're not. To get there, I had to accept that God's no meant no.
Again, lesson learned.
Hope is an amazing thing. At the foot of my bed, the dog and the cat are curled up and taking a nap together. The cat is smiling. Talk about loving your enemy....
I've learned more about that from pets than I could ever hope to from watching humans act. I hope I've put that into practice in my life. Again, not always easy, but always the right thing to do.
Well, that's all for today. I hope you're invoking the 10-10 rule for amateur night. That's the wherever you are at ten p.m., you should be at ten a.m. Don't drive. Too many idiots out the.
I hope each of you has a blessed 2013 and that if your resolutions involve going back to church, that this is the year you keep that resolution.
Happy New Year!
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