And Now… On To January.
To everything turn, turn, turn
There is a season turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under Heaven.
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
“Turn, Turn, Turn” by The Birds
You have made it through the Holidays. Congratulations! That is not an easy task for those of us grieving. Whether it has been few days, a few months, or many years since your loss, November and December are difficult.
And now - on to January. The Holiday festivities have passed, and the world returns to normal. But we don’t. There is no normal. Where did normal go? we wonder… Counselors call it a “new” normal. But nothing feels “new” about it.
While January is traditionally a time of looking forward, planning the new year, setting goals for the future; it is also a time for looking back. It is a time of accessing the past year. Who can escape the media blast of “2022 at a glance”?
There is no doubt about it, the transition from one year to the next requires more goodbyes. Add to that dark, cold days and January can have a blue hue hanging over it. We feel our wounds more deeply. As we cast our eyes on the year ahead it seems to be filled with more of the same---more missing, more sadness, more tears. It is so difficult not to dread the coming year.
And yet our God reminds us that we don’t need to fear the year ahead.
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Psalms 32:8
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
Deuteronomy 31:8
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. ... Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”.
God will plan our year for us. He promises to go before us into this New Year, never leaving nor forsaking us. Let’s not choose to stay in the cold and dark. Let’s open the windows of our hearts with praise and thanksgiving. While we can’t praise God “for” all things, we can praise Him “in” all things and allow our world to be warmed and illuminated. Let’s move forward, laying our fear aside and trusting Him to keep His promises.
Click here to listen to I dreamed a Dream by Susan Boyle , America’s Got Talent 2009 on Youtube. Although , as the last line of the song says, “life has killed our dream”, let’s ask the Lord for new dreams this year. Dreams do come true. Susan Boyle’s did.
