A Season of Gratitude

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God is good, y’all.

I write a lot about different seasons and how God is at work in every one, and I believe that. It’s just extra cool to be seated in a season where blessings are pouring out all over you and you can’t even contain your joy and gratitude.

I find myself thanking God so often, multiple times a day. Heck— multiple times during one prayer. I find myself going back to the “Thank you, God, again, for all of these blessings.” And as I round out another year and look forward to a new decade (WHAT?!), I can’t help but reflect back on all the ways God has blessed me richly. 

First, the basics. I have a healthy family who isn’t too far away and supports me no matter what. We are so incredibly blessed to live the lives that we do with one another.

Also, this year I got to see several people I cared about get baptized. It was an honor and a privilege to be able to walk alongside them in their faith journeys as they took that bold step of declaration in 2019.

I moved into the Hillenmeyer household, and have been richly blessed by witnessing their amazing family, marriage, and vision for serving God together. Their hospitality has been a direct extension of God’s grace towards me, and the way they care for me has been both intentional and sacrificial. I am constantly learning how to better love and serve others by doing life with them.

I went on trips all over this side of the world, and also had some really meaningful retreats closer to home as I enjoyed the God’s creation. I went camping more than I ever have. I went to the beach. I stomped through a coffee farm. I climbed sand dunes and floated in hot springs. I trekked through some ancient ruins. I went on quiet hikes in the woods. I got to see, taste, feel, hear, and smell so many vibrant things this year. 

My time at Kid’s Club every week has been such a blessing, too. Most people think of watching two year-olds as a burden, but I was graciously afforded the chance to care for adorable, innocent souls that taught me more about God and the love He has for His children. Teaching them the gospel has brought me “back to the basics” in a way I didn’t anticipate, and I was able to serve alongside some of my dear friends, too, which was so amazing.

I was promoted to COO this year. I got a raise. I hired 5 new people to join our awesome team. Our company saw incredible growth in accounts and sales from last year. I started an initiative that donates proceeds from one of our coffees to nonprofits fighting injustice at the border an in our own backyard, and we’ve raised over $4,000 in a few short months. 

I was able to start serving regularly in Dayton Correctional Institution this year. I led a group of women through my church’s “Undivided” experience, and saw some amazing life change that will transform the institution for the better. I was transformed for the better, too. I was able to make meaningful relationships with some of the women and encouraged them with the hope and grace available to them through Christ. 

I led a group of amazing young women at my church every single week. We prayed for each other and cried with each other and were there for each other through some really difficult challenges at work, some really hard family discourse, and some really beautiful weddings. 

I endured the ending of a long, meaningful relationship and began a new one that is bursting with promise. I feel cared for and sought after, and it’s only been a few short months. I cannot wait to see what God is going to do with these two hearts that run hard after Him, and above all else, desire to honor Him. 

It’s good to reflect and make note of all the ways my God has been good to me. Most (if not all) of the things I mentioned weren’t accomplished through my own will, but by the grace bestowed upon me because of God’s unfailing love for me. He has been so, so good to me this year, and I have every reason to believe that no matter what 2020 holds, the same God who has lead me thus far will continue to live within me in the coming year.

All glory, honor, and power be to God!