Reflect and Renew

As we are approaching the end of this year and look forward to the beginning of the next, many of us take time to reflect on the past year. Like most, we can find a little bit of everything within the past year. A little bit of heartache, laughter, love, some time together, some time apart, new friendships, and memories made. My phrase for 2021 was "cest la vie" which translates to "that's life." I had chosen this phrase for 2021 because I wanted to remind myself to go with the flow more, or at least try to. Was I successful? Sometimes. It goes against my nature, I think, to not plan the details out, but when my plans change unexpectedly, I've tried to remind myself that that's life and just go with it. And not to just go with it, but to do it with a happy heart. I’m not perfect so of course, I have failed but the important thing is that I kept going back to my phrase and tried again the next time.

The past few weeks I've been trying to decide what 2022's word or phrase might be. This year, I'm going with joy. My whole life I have been the type of person that expects the worst and hopes for the best and I've caught myself many times being more half-glass empty than half-glass full. While I think it is healthy to be realistic with our expectations, I want to be able to be joyous in the good times and the bad. I think our world has warped the definition of joy. We have bought the lie that joy equals happiness. When the true definition of joy is choosing to be happy no matter the circumstance so my goal for this year is to choose joy in all situations.

This morning, part of my Bible study was to read I Timothy 6:12-16 which reminds us that we, as believers, are called to "fight the good fight of faith." To me, this is a reminder to have faith of God's promises to us, of His promise to return. But until that time, we need to follow Jesus' example to the best of our ability. And when I think of the example He left us, I picture the overflowing love He had for us and the joy he chose time and time again during His time on earth. As I reflect on last year, I hope to not forget last year’s phrase and what it taught me. I hope that I can still remember to go with the flow when a wrench is thrown in my plans. And as we welcome in 2022, I aim to be intentional about choosing to be joyful even when the bad times come. And in doing so, my hope is to "fight the good fight of faith,” shine the light of Jesus to those around me, and to let the promises of God renew me.