I’m singing this one like a broken piece of glass
From broken arms an’ broken noses in the back
Is this the New Year or just another desperation?

The Blues, Switchfoot

As we were driving north for our little daycation to Legoland this week, Kenny had the brilliant idea to write a letter to 2016.  He will write one on his own and I was to write one as well. 

Here’s mine:

Dear 2016,

In the last few days, you’ve been receiving some brutal words from people who have suffered terrible circumstances this year.  You’ve been blamed for deaths, election results, heartbreak, job losses, and only God knows what else.  Some events are truly horrendous and unjust and unfortunate while others are shallow at best.  Although I’d love to join in the fun and ride the bandwagon, 2016, you are not to blame for my misfortunes.  I’m not going to lie, there were times when I really wanted to do this…

But 2016, it aches me to admit this:

it’s not your fault.

When we deem you responsible for a bad year, it is due to our human defense mechanism of wanting to shift blame onto something or someone else for our adversities to make us feel avenged or freed from any responsibility we may have caused ourselves.

Some of our bad circumstances are simply consequences which stem from past poor decision making or perhaps they were just obstacles, with the sole purpose of challenging us, in a race where we get to win the prize once we reach the finish line.  Either way, these obstacles only tend to redirect our paths and/or sculpt us into shape to make us stronger as I’m sure we will encounter more challenges in future years to come.  So, I won’t blame you 2016 and I won’t blame 2017 either.  Instead, I will keep my eyes set on the main prize even when running makes my heart faint and my breathing a bit rushed.  One of my biggest heartaches this year was having to witness my mom’s passing, but her faith was never shaky and her demeanor was grace-filled.  You didn’t take my mother away from me, 2016.  She was merely focused on the prize, as she should have been, and she personified 2 Timothy 4:6-8, (Paul’s Valedictory):

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

So,this is my “resolution” for 2017,

But you, O (wo)man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.   Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1 Timothy 6:12

I will pursue:

righteousness

godliness

faith

love

patience

gentleness

That’s my mission for 2017. 

Let’s run after them, in pursuit of each of them, let’s make this a marathon,

will anyone reading this join me?

Let us fight that good fight of faith.

Thank you 2016, for simply being you, another calendar year, who doesn’t have control over our lives.

And 2017, here we go, let us run!

Yours Truly,

Ally V