It's the end of 2024. Literally just hours away. And as it does every year it makes me reminiscent. The wins. The losses. The valleys. The beautiful mountaintops. All of it weaves and winds together to create the story of our lives. Some of us are intertwined out of blood. Others out of love. There's even those of us that are interconnected because of love or friendship that once was but is no more. We are all part of others stories in some form. We may owe apologies or forgiveness. We may be owed apologies or forgiveness. We may have started new traditions with new people this year. We may have had to walk away from old traditions with others. All of it is what makes us who we are. It's what made up our year. It's what will make up our next year.
I pray that you leave the grudges, the regrets, the unforgiveness all in 2024. I pray you step into 2025 asking Abba to soften your heart, to open year eyes and to let your ears hear all that He has in store for you. I pray that you leave the comparison and the unmet expectations in 2024 and you walk into 2025 knowing that you are enough, that you are worthy and that you are loved. I pray you are stepping into 2025 with all the excitement of a child at Christmas when you think about the things the Lord has in store for you!
I am spending this day enjoying this little piece of earth that I have been blessed with. I have had my hands in the soil tending the garden and planting seeds in prayerful faith that what I sow I will harvest. I have started on restoring these 100 year old windows that will be a place where I get to meet Jesus every single day. A place where I will get to host Bible studies and ladies lunches. A place where I will continue to sow even more seeds in prayerful faith that what I sow I will harvest. And a place where I get to bust open a packet of seeds and share the love of Jesus every time I host a seed starting or wreath making class.
The one thing I am leaving 2024 with is that even when things aren't as I wish they were they are just as they should be. I know that I serve a God that will never leave things undone or broken. He is a God of restoration and healing and He longs to give to us in abundance when our desires line up with His will. I have so many hopes and dreams, for my family, for all of our kids, for friends and extended family. I have prayers of restoration for broken relationships. And I have prayers over this farm and the families we will be able to touch this year through it. My only goal for 2025 is to grow even closer to my Father and stronger in my faith.
Those who have been forgiven much love much. And I now love much! There are no grudges. There truly is no unforgiveness. And I will freely apologize where needed.
And as I sit in this greenhouse looking out these century old windows this year I will wonder how many faces have looked out of them in their life. How may prayers were prayed. Rainy days enjoyed. Mothers soaking in the days of youth passing by so quickly in their children playing in the yard. Grandmas waving by after a much enjoyed visit from her grandchildren. How many prayers were sent up from the knees of woman lying it all at the feet of Jesus. Then...then I will be thankful for everyone of those experiences I myself have had or will have.
She's going to be so much more than just a greenhouse. And she will be filled with so much more than just seedlings.
Happy New Year my beautiful friends! I am praying so many blessings over each of you.
Let's finish this year healing, whole and healthy! Let's bring in 2025 with gratitude and excitement and faith!
"May the soil be fertile, the harvest be bountiful and the farmer grow weary."
-Farmer Mandy
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