To be honest, I push through each day, and while some days are fine, others leave me discouraged, pessimistic, hard to be around.
2012 was a winter season.
I have plenty of things to be thankful for, and I'm very grateful. I have been all year. But being grateful and feeling joyful are two different things.
A handful of good writer friends kept my spirits up with our chats, texts, and e-mails. Recently, I spent Thanksgiving weekend with my sister, her family, and my parents. I don't know if it was a combination of all this, but at some point last week, the layer of snow covering my optimism melted.
I felt hope stir.
I didn't realize how much I missed hope--that glorious, energy-giving sensation--until those tiny tendrils broke loose. When they did, I nourished them and hope did not wither. It blossomed.
Really, nothing specific happened. I think God granted me grace with the promise of spring.
Sometimes everything in your life should add up to 100% happiness, but it doesn't, and you don't have a good explanation for it. That's okay. Just keep getting up and doing what you're supposed to do. Winter will pass. Spring will come. When it does, let hope blossom.
Looking back, how would you describe your year?
Have a wonderful weekend!!
Busy. That's how I would describe my year. Busy but happy. :D
ReplyDeleteConsidering it's still fall and it's felt like Winter for the past month or so, I'm counting down the days till spring.
Hope you have a great 2013, Jill. :D
Busy can be great!! I'm counting the days until spring too. Love it!
DeleteHope your 2013 will be terrific!
It's been a year, that's for sure. One of testing, heartache, humbling, and lessons.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm almost through it and I can see the sun rising over the horizon.
Thankful to friends who reminded me it was there! ;-)
You're a tremendous blessing in my life, Wendy. I'm sorry you've been through so much this year too, but I'm glad we were able to get through it together. :)
DeleteI'm so, so glad that God renewed your hope. That glorious moment when you first feel the stirring inside that whispers of the light at the end of the tunnel ... there's nothing like it.
ReplyDelete2012 has been a good year. A year that's reminded me that there is more to life than just plodding through ... more than just existing. I'm not quite back into living wholly and joyously yet ... but I can see it beckoning, just out of reach. I'm thinking 2013 will be the year when I stretch my fingers just a little further and grab onto that joy again!
You're right--there's nothing like it! And my heart is just smiling that you had one of those breakthrough years where optimism has had room to spread. I'm hoping 2013 will bring you fully back to that joy!
DeleteSo sorry you went through such a hard year, Jill. One of the highlights of mine was meeting and connecting with you, though! So even though you were going through a winter, you managed to reach out to a young writer and give her hope. I love that about you. :)
ReplyDeleteLindsay, it was one of my highlights too! And I could see from the start you were very special. I'm excited to see God's plan for your future. I'll be cheering you on all the way!
DeleteJill, I'm glad spring is on its way for you. 2012 was all over the place for me. Some big ups and some big downs. I know a lot of that was just how I dealt with the times, that those downs didn't have to be quite so big, but I'm ready for next year. I'm ready for consistency, and even more, I'm ready to be confident and happy with my decisions, and trust God with the rest.
ReplyDeleteI hear you on the "how I dealt with this," but sometimes it's virtually impossible not to wallow in discouragement! I've had so many whine fests. I'm thrilled none of my friends got sick of me!! Trusting God helps a lot. :)
DeleteOh Jill, I'm so glad you've seen hope spring up recently. The first couple months of the year were rough for me. Winter 2012--not really the best of my life. But then spring came. And...things took a turn for the awesome. Life really does move in seasons, it seems...but I love that God is constant through all of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry the start of 2012 was rough for you, Melissa. But I'm thrilled this summer turned it around! I can't wait to spot the exciting things coming over the next months. Now, if we can just get Tebow in the picture... :)
DeleteHope is a good thing. My year was a dance marathon. Still is. I'm hanging in and dancing as fast as I cn
ReplyDeleteYou know, CJ, I love to dance! I love the sound of a year being a dance marathon--here's hoping for a doozy of one next year!!
DeleteJill, your post was moving and beautiful. This year I've felt out-of-step. I've been very blessed, and yet I don't feel the satisfaction I should. Christmas brings out the news stories of charity and love. I hope to absorb the feeling and smile more. Thanks, Jill.
ReplyDeleteAh, I know exactly what you're talking about. We finally get the thing we wanted and instead of it fulfilling us, it brings a whole new set of issues.
DeleteYou're handling this new phase with grace, humor, and a lot of hard work, and I'm very proud of you!