Hi, Mary!

 

When I finished reading a special friend’s letter to herself as we end 2024, she challenged me to give it a try.  So here I go on this last day of 2024; a letter to me follows: 

You made it through another year with God’s grace, Mary.  Let’s acknowledge how He’s been with you every step of the way.  Now to look at all the blessings and/or lessons that somehow turned into blessings, too. 

Starting with January, you made it to birthday #75.  Let’s give thanks for good health and daughters who blessed you with a fully- paid trip to Las Vegas with a comfortable stay at The Delano for a few days.  Remember when you lost badly playing “Cherries Jubilee?”  What about that fancy drinking glass with the rose pattern encompassing  large letter D that the Diana Exhibit gifted you with at the completion of the tour?  It’s a memory marker of that day you reviewed the life of an icon who turned her pain into gain by giving.  Oh how you loved sitting in Martha Stewart’s dining room eating her famous cheese perogies and roasted chicken and calling your older brother exclaiming “I’m eating at Martha Stewart’s home and you’re not!”

“Remember,”—is your word for the year and it fits perfectly.  It is amazing how God blesses one with a special word to carry out the year’s days weaving a message of hope written just for you through the challenges and surprises of each new day.

 

Jesus, Himself, encourages us to “remember” as we take His Body and His Blood in humble thanks because He forgave us of all sin.  A special friend’s birthday present helped to keep that memory alive all year long when he gave you the book by Beni Johnson, The Power of Communion, Accessing Miracles Through the Body and Blood of Jesus.

 

Another book in 2024 that led to your growth, Safe People, by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend, targeted relationships that are good for you and taught you how to avoid those that aren’t.  Discussing this book with those closest to you helped you find the courage to look within to be a better friend and make better choices.

The microburst in August looked like a disaster.  It was!  Lots of fencing, siding, erosion and ruined structures turned a peaceful plot of property into a war zone.  It took months to get things back in shape.  What did you learn?  The biggest lesson your kids taught you in the mess was family support along with sacrifice and compassion which speaks volumes.  A family friend with a resourceful mind erected a retaining wall to protect the homestead in the days to come in Monsoon season.  No doubt, the fast and furious rain will have to reroute throughout the property leaving less damage for certain!  Lessons learned.

 

Why do you suppose you turned down invitations to spend Thanksgiving alone?  Was it to feel the peace of solitude by reflecting on blessings to understand the full meaning of thanksgiving? 

 

Will it ever get easier to grieve the loss of a fifty- one year marriage partner?  Is there a deeper trust of God when a decision has to be made in the midst of chaos and uncertainty? When will confidence kick in with wisdom to solve every problem?  You've made some strides here with great decisions but also made a few poor ones, too.

 

And just like that you flip flopped from solitude into December activity as you traveled to Tucson to be with family for the Christmas holidays.  What was the greatest fulfillment?  Was it cooking with your daughter, baking with the grands, attending their mega church with exciting meaningful worship?  Was it all the fun movies, the day spent in the Botanical gardens photographing a granddaughter’s delight in the butterfly exhibit?  Was it intimate talks with a praying daughter that brought joy?

These are the highlights of 2024 to “remember” at the year's end.

How about you?  Want to give it a try and write a letter to yourself in 2024?

 

Happy New Year!