I started writing a 2013 review blog, and I have to be honest--it was terrible. Not that I'm the most talented writer or the most enlightening communicator....but my 2013 blog was just plain depressing. I started recounting all of the nasty things that happened and maybe a little bit of the good things here and there, and as I was editing I realized that it was very imbalanced. How easy it is to focus on the negative! The negative is more interesting, the negative is more entertaining, the negative is easier to remember and easier to dwell on. Right? So instead I decided that for the top 5 negative things that happened in 2013 I would write 3 positive things that happened or were a result of the negative thing. Most of you know 2013 was a hard year for us in many ways. But I want to finish 2013 not by focusing on the negative, but on our blessings. Sometimes they were hard to see in the midst of the pain, the tears, the heartbreak, the confusion...but they were there. As you can see right here, they were there. Which is why I both hate and love 2013.
#5 Johnny lost his job
1. Johnny has the interview experience of a champion
2. Johnny gained the confidence to realize his potential in ministry
3. Johnny started Discover Family Church
#4 Sarah quit her job
1. Sarah's new job has less stress
2. Sarah's new job has better salary and benefits
3. Sarah's new job allows much more family and friends time
#3 Sarah and Johnny had no steady income for 3 months
1. Johnny's summer speaking engagements paid more than expected
2. Sarah, Johnny, and Arlis never went without a meal or diapers or milk
3. Sarah and Johnny's bills were paid on time every month
#2 Sarah and Johnny moved out of their house and subsequently had nowhere to live
1. Sarah, Johnny, and Arlis spent quality time with Kim and Betty
2. Sarah and Johnny have rental income from renting their home
3. Sarah and Johnny now live in the perfect little condo and are saving lots of money
#1 Sarah and Johnny lost Baby Blueberry
1. Sarah and Johnny now have valuable wisdom and experience regarding miscarriage and loss
2. Sarah and Johnny have a lot of family and friends who love them
3. Sarah and Johnny are stronger than they thought they were
I won't even pretend that these positive things were always apparent. But what was apparent and so clear was God's grace. We made mistakes this year...we were so disappointed in ourselves and in our circumstances, and sometimes on top of that we were criticized by others, which made that feeling even worse...but thank GOD for his grace, made perfect in our weakness as Paul so eloquently wrote in 2 Corinthians. We most certainly were weak this year, but that weakness has positioned us for Christ to work more deeply in our family and in our ministry. Though this year has been one of our hardest it has not left us discouraged or defeated. Instead it has left us with confidence to walk boldly and intentionally into 2014 knowing that we can rest assuredly in God's grace. It has left us even more determined to accomplish the goals of 2014. I'm excited that 2013 is over, but I'm even more excited to use what we learned this year to make next year even better. Thank you, friends, for your support and love this year. It has meant more than you will ever know. Happy New Year!
