Yesterday, I saw a challenge given my Emily to list 15 things you learned in December. I scrolled past the challenge ignoring it. But in the night when thoughts are free to have their way, and God speaks to the spirit of a woman without the soul trying to translate its meaning, I heard the Lord extend the challenge.
Here is my list of 15 Things I Have Learned in December, and I’m so glad that I accepted!
1. The money spent to attend conferences pays for itself in growing and making new friendships.
2. The world is more menacing and more wonderful the more I explore it from the point of view of an Urban Anthropologist.
3. An imperfectly decorated tree does not the have any bearing on the joy of Christmas.
4. Saying nothing can be the smartest thing to say when family is around for the holidays.
5. There is a place for tucking away old family recipes and trying a new dessert!
6. It is not my responsibility to make everyone happy. They must choose their own happiness.
7. Happiness is something you collect in a basket during the day, and share like a picnic with your family at night.
8. Everyone has an amazing story inside of them, one that includes hurt, many tears and rejoicing.
9. Pray works…even if it takes twenty years to see the slightest clue that God has heard your prayers. (Thank you Father, for what I have seen this Christmas!)
10. I have yet to see a Christmas where there was not a loaves and fishes story when it came to finding the money to give to others.
11. At some point you must say, “WE HAVE ENOUGH!”
12. At some point we usually need to say, “Ok, let’s just go with the flow!”
13. Snuggling on the soft couch with little ones, beneath a threadbare quilt and reading stories never gets old.
14. At some point in December, if I am listening, God will challenge something I thought was a solid fact of life.
15. And the most important for me is this year, I have tried to write what will get hits, get more followers, and get more attention. The thing I have learned is, I need to write what is in my heart. And, if it never pleases anyone but the one who placed it in my heart, then it needs to be the standard to which I invest all of my writing.
For 2014, I am going back to writing as myself; or at least I’m going to try. I have feared writing about God or my thoughts about how this Christian walk really works because I am no theologian! And, because there is Warfare when I do.
But I know God has given me a measure of wisdom, and as James suggests, I am asking for more. My adventure walk with Christ began when I was too young to understand doxology, theology, or speak the first word of Christian-eese. But I knew Christ. I was aware of His presence beside my bed, and I still am aware of His presence in my everyday life.
In the Mundane, I see His hand in small things we call Miracles. But really, the miracles I see are only God walking in the midst of His people. He is just being Himself.
I am going to try, beginning today, to write about Seeing Christ in Everyday life; God Walking in the Midst of His People. (Pray for me?)
I’m over at Emily’s today, if you would like to jump over and see other lessons by other amazing writers!
Latest posts by Diane W. Bailey (see all)
- What God Can Do with A Shattered Heart - September 5, 2022
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All of this is so true, and beautiful. Thank you for the challenge to think and remember ‘why’ we do what we do and for what reason.
Happy New Year Sharon!
Shelly – I love what is in you heart and yes! You need to write that! It is lovely!
Happy New Year friend!
I’ll take being compared to Shelly any Day – She Rocks! Happy New Year, Stacey!
This list is beautiful! #6 – YES! and #7 – just wow! That is so gorgeous and true and Pinterest-worthy! Well done!
I love that you are getting back to the heart – to your heart – of writing! I have only recently ‘discovered’ you – so I am excited to see if I notice a change in voice – but I agree! The pull toward the business side of writing has it’s time – but it’s when I stay close to the heart of it all that I feel most in sync (even with no hits or likes or what have you’s!)
I am linked up with Emily today too! I love these random lists!
Happy New Year!
~K~
Hi Karrilee! Love getting to know you! Here we go into the new year with a common theme! I love how God bring kindrid hearts together!
AMEN! I love your list. And I am in a quest to write more of what He’s put on my heart as well. After all, it’s all for His glory. Blessings!
Yes, Barbie, it is for His glory! Let’s move into 2014 arm in arm as sisters, holding each other accountable to this promise!
Amen to # 4, and I think that ties into #6 for me. Rejoicing with you over # 9 (and holding on to hope for the tough cookies I am praying for.).
Hope you have a wonderful New Year! 🙂
Thank you Lil! Happy New Year to You as Well!!!
I really loved the last couple of paragraphs above “I’m over at Emily’s” . . .
Thank you Cheryl. It is so nice to meet you! Happy New Year!
Beautiful and refreshing simplicity. Love this Diane! Glad I met you at Allume!
<3
Kathy, I am so glad we met as well! Let’s work on the friendship long distance. I don’t want to wait until Allume to talk with you again!
Everything on your list – went straight to my heart because I’m right there with you. I especially loved #7 – but your 20 year prayer? I have a 15 year one is walking home – I can see it in the distance – God is good!You are a blessing!
Blue Girl, I knew we were Kindred spirits. Let’s never grow weary in our prayers.
This voice belongs to only you. It is the sound of my fearfully and wonderfully made beautiful friend. It is honest,warm,funny,loving,reflective and reminds me that Jesus didn’t write his own book, he wrote through the minds and hands of people who loved him, just like he writes in you. This voice is my favorite.
Terrie you’re going to get me crying! Love you, dear dear friend!