ENCOURAGEMENT FOR TODAY- What Have You Learned and Experienced Since The Beginning of the Year?
The year 2024 has been filled with economic failures, storms, and hurricanes, political attacks and anger, unrest in the Middle East bombings in many countries, sex scandals, brutal rapes and murders, shootings, and horrendous tragedies. Life has been so hard this year for many. The concern of a financial cliff next year might be more difficult.Â
It will be so easy to say, “Well, this is as good as it gets!” and give up like so many. It will be easy to get angry and blame everybody and Santa Claus for the problems that exist and the obstacles that stand in the way. It will be easy to believe that because the road behind has been filled with struggles, pain, and sadness life is condemned to be a repetition of the same and then death without hope.
There are a few simple truths:
1) regardless of race, gender, religion, creed, or background; we all need to be loved, have worth, and be accepted. Everything we do in life is to get those needs met either in healthy or unhealthy ways.
2) for the exception of things done to us, and things totally out of our control (the day we die, breathing, sickness, other people, etc.) Everything is a choice.
So believing those truths, how do we move forward in 2024 amid such darkness, struggle, pain, and obstacles in our world?
We can choose to be grateful. Sounds crazy doesn’t it?Â
We cannot choose the family we are born into, the tragedies or harm that happens to us, or the story that our life will reveal. However, we can choose how we will respond to people in our lives, how we will respond to the harm that has happened in our past and through our lives, and how we will deal with the current situations that impact the people around us.Â
We can move forward in 2024 with the demands, anger, unrealistic expectations of ourselves and others, unforgiveness, victim-mentality, depression, excuses, obstacles, discouragement, hopelessness, bitterness, blaming, etc. or we can choose to release it for our good, knowing that release is not condoning any bad behavior or harm.
We can choose to look at the many blessings, provisions, narrow escapes, found money, days of enjoyment, great kids, sunshine, friends, wonderful foods, another day living, laughter, and so many other opportunities for gratitude.
We can choose to believe we have been placed on this Earth for a purpose and a plan that is based on our story of joys, sorrows, trials, characters, failures, struggles, themes, burdens, and passions. We can choose to believe that purpose can and will only be fulfilled by us, through our choice to move forward knowing to get TO we have to go THROUGH something.
We can choose to believe we are still living, breathing, and walking this Earth, regardless of our situation and struggles, because our purpose for our lives has not been fulfilled. Perhaps, this will be our time to begin to stand by seeing a changed perspective of taking the first step instead of waiting for a door to be opened or a path to be cleared to make our way safely. It is impossible to remain safe and please God according to His purpose for our life.
We have made it this far. We cannot give up now. What have you learned and experienced to make you a better person moving towards 2025? Be grateful for that!  Perhaps, 2024 will be a time of new beginnings, change, vision, purpose, boldness, and gratefulness.
Charlotte
Dream Madly, Pursue Wildly, Trust Completely
www.charlottehunt.com
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