Reflections from a Wild Hearted Gal

Here we are, our last day of 2021. What a year it's been huh? It's crazy how time flies, sometimes while having fun, sometimes because of the demanding busyness that life shoves at us, sometimes from a simple blink. Bam. A new year is quickly approaching and just around the bend, all the things we thought we would have accomplished, have accomplished, or just dreamt. It's all coming to a close, but with that closed door, a new one opens. I've been sitting here pondering life, and all that it's brought to my table, even if some of what was brought wasn't invited, it was nonetheless presented to me and placed on my table of life. Pain, love, loss, joy, heartache, gain, new endeavors, new relationships, some gained and some lost. Life has a never-ending ebb and flow, and we are always seemingly swimming with it, or swimming upstream with a little more difficulty from the opposing flow. I am thankful for each one, and all that's been brought with it; the murky waters, the debris and dirt that's rubbed against me like sandpaper, and the clear, bright waters that have soothed and washed it all away.

Isn't that so symbolic? How thankful I am for the washing and cleansing flow from my Heavenly Father. He has walked, crawled, sat, ran, and been with me every step of the way in my journey of 2021. He's encouraged me to keep swimming, even when every bone, muscle, and joint in my body was screaming for respite, He carried me to completion of each and every moment. And when completed, He himself, gave me that very respite that I was desperate for, cleansing me, giving me peace and much needed rest in His always steady hold. I know we always want to look back on our lives and say we did it all, we didn't have any "what if's" & "I should have's" but we all do, and that's okay! I've strived to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord, with less of the above's and more of the "I can't believe I did that!" I firmly believe that everything, and I mean EVERYTHING that we go through has been sifted through the hands of the Father, no matter how we may "feel" about it. Feelings are fleeting, but the Word of the Lord remains steadfast, and I remember that His promises to me are not always going to be wrapped in the package that I thought they would be. I'm finding more and more that they are wrapped in the things that one could easily pass by, but if we take the time to be patient and wait, and to also look for the "little things" we will very much find our promises there when HE wants them revealed to us. Psalm 111:5 says, "He satisfies all who love and trust him, and he keeps every promise he makes." There you have it, friends, our Father is a promise keeper.

It reminds me of Simeon, in the Bible. The Lord promised to Simeon that he would see the birth of Jesus, and it was a promise that he held onto until that joyful, special day. The day he held baby Jesus in his hands at the temple. A promise that took almost a full lifetime, was finally in his arms. Can you imagine what that must have felt like? How emotionally beautiful, and fulfilling it was. Now, turn it around to you and me. Our heavenly father has made a promise to us, a promise that we will spend eternity with him, and that one day, his son, Jesus, will come back for his bride, us. A promise that we hold onto, a promise we are waiting on ourselves. Jesus. Our hope. Our redemption. Our peace. Our Savior.

I don't know what promises you are waiting on, I don't know all that you've endured and been through this year. I know it's been another tough year for all of us, some more than others. But all I know is that we have a living, breathing, hope. A hope that will carry us through into this new year of 2022. I pray that you don't lose your wonder, I pray that you continue to be expectant, I pray that you remain wrapped in hope. I pray that in this new year, that some of those promises, will come to pass to remind you of HIS goodness and immense love towards you. Take some time before we enter into a new year to tell him of your gratitude for all He's done for you and will continue to do. Until next year, my friends. Cheers to a new year!

Psalm 118:29 "Keep on giving your thanks to God, for he is so good! His constant, tender love lasts forever!"