When I look back on the last year, there’s not much that stands out at first glance. There weren’t any big transitions or accomplishments. I continued to be a stay-at-home mom. Most of my days were filled with taking care of my kids, managing our home, helping out at the kids’ schools, and mediating arguments.
Honestly, when I think about this past year, the word that comes to mind is mundane.
Somewhere along the way, I started dreading when people would ask how I’m doing or what’s new because I never felt like I had much to say. I told myself that no one is interested in hearing that I joined the PTA or that I’m struggling to find a good rhythm for my writing or that I took the kids to the Arboretum. It all just seems so insignificant.
But when I begin to sift through the memories of what happened in this past year, I see a little glimmer of something.
I recognize that in the midst of the mundane, God was there. He was working inside me. He’s been showing me my own brokenness. He’s been uncovering some wounds that I didn’t know were there. He’s been breaking down what I thought I knew, and shattering the lies that I’ve been holding onto.
This season has been one of stripping away – of roles, responsibilities, relationships, false identities, long-held beliefs. And it hurt as those things were stripped away. There’s been grieving and there’s been disorientation.
But there’s also been grace.
As God has chipped away at the rough terrain, he’s been revealing some precious stones. He’s been reminding me of truth. He’s been opening my eyes to new perspectives. He’s been drawing out some giftings that had been lying dormant. He’s been inviting me to slow down and to notice the beauty around me.
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A couple weeks ago at church, we sang the song Way Maker, and tears came to my eyes as I proclaimed…
Even when I don’t see it, you’re working.
Even when I don’t feel it, you’re working.
You never stop, you never stop working.
You never stop, you never stop working.
There’s been so much goodness in this past year that I didn’t always see. But I see it now. I see that God has been using the precious stones that he’s uncovered to pave a path. I can’t yet see where it leads, but I see the glimmers of beauty shining among the soil.
I believe that reflection is so important. It’s easy to miss out on the beauty in the midst of the mundane if you don’t take the time to look for it. If you haven’t taken time to reflect on the last year yet, I encourage you to carve out some time for it this week. If you need a little help getting started, here are the questions that I went through for my reflection…
What happened last year?
What was hard?
What are you grateful for?
What is God teaching you?
What questions do you bring into the new year?