Ushering in The New Year

2018 will be a year of new experiences. Some good, some bad, but all new. Today is the first day of the rest of my life and I have been feeling this much more acutely as of late. My father lost his battle with cancer in early December. My children and I were blessed to be able to spend a long winter holiday with the majority of our family and friends to honor my father and reconnect after several years apart. December was a rough month for us, not unlike it is for many people. We dived headfirst into grief and all the baggage that entails. A wonderful woman I am grateful to share a church family with reminded me best in saying, "This was never your burden to bear. Acknowledge the trauma, give it the time and priority it deserves. But then, let it go." Traveling back to family allowed us to re-center ourselves. We left with sadness, but renewed purpose that this is the path we were called to be on.

Expectantly so, God has placed a word on my heart for 2018, breathe. How fitting, isn't it? Just breathe. One of my favorite Christian songs reminds us so much about how we allow ourselves to get trapped in the day to day, weighed down by man's purpose. When we take the time to breathe, to let go and let God, we allow ourselves to be redirected back to God's purpose for our lives. This is not my plan, this is God working through me to fulfill His plan. When was the last time you took the time to really breathe? To take a step back and collect your thoughts? For me, the past six months were just a whirlwind of emotion and busy-ness.

The lyrics of Breathe by Jonny Diaz are a perfect reflection of where I found myself in late 2017:

     Alarm clock screaming bare feet hit the floor
     It’s off to the races everybody out the door
     I’m feeling like I’m falling behind, it’s a crazy life

     Ninety miles an hour going fast as I can
     Trying to push a little harder trying to get the upper hand
     So much to do in so little time, it’s a crazy life
     It’s ready, set, go it’s another wild day
     When the stress is on the rise in my heart I feel you say just

     Breathe, just breathe
     Come and rest at my feet
     And be, just be
     Chaos calls but all you really need
     Is to just breathe

     Third cup of joe just to get me through the day
     Want to make the most of time but I feel it slip away
     I wonder if there’s something more to this crazy life
     I’m busy, busy, busy, and it’s no surprise to see
     That I only have time for me, me, me
     There’s gotta be something more to this crazy life
     I’m hanging on tight to another wild day
     When it starts to fall apart in my heart I hear you say just

     Breathe, just breathe
     Come and rest at my feet
     And be, just be
     Chaos calls but all you really need

     Is to take it in, fill your lungs
     The peace of God that overcomes
     Just breathe (just breathe)
     Let your weary spirit rest
     Lay down what’s good and find what’s best
     Just breathe (just breathe)

     Just breathe, just breathe
     Come and rest at my feet
     And be, just be
     Chaos calls but all you really need
     Is to just breathe
    Just breathe

So, here's to moving forward. Let's forge a new path. 2018 is going to be the best year we can hope for it to be. Is there a word or a phrase weighing on your heart? Have you taken the time to listen? Allow me to leave you with this verse, Lamentations 3:22-24 says, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore, I will hope in Him.'" I pray God's blessing on your life in the coming year. I pray you find the answers to the deepest desires of your soul as God wishes to respond to them. I pray you remember to breathe.