M. Aline

This year has been one full of trials and tribulations. From health scares (the struggle to gain weight and keep it is REAL) to loss, heartbreak, new opportunities, and falling in love all over again…it has been quite a year. There are many things I look back on and wish I would’ve realized sooner but I also know that if I would’ve, I wouldn’t be where I am now. Throughout this past year, I have seen God at work not just in my life, but in my family and friends lives. I took a few steps back, but then I took ten steps forward. I have grown significantly and while there are some qualities more than others that I am working a tad harder to improve, I know that God is right there with me and He is shaping me more and more into who I am meant to be.

My word for going into 2022 was: promises. When I first received that word, I wasn’t sure what to think. In fact, I’m almost certain that I released one of the deepest sighs and asked myself, “Why?” One of my biggest issues is patience. I’ve always planned ahead and imagined things happening at an exact time. And when it doesn’t happen when I think it’s supposed to, I become anxious. I hate not being in control of the very things I have absolutely no control over. But as I went through the year, I realized that patience was exactly what I needed the most work on. In order for me to receive the promises that God had for me, I had to be willing to let go and be still. I had to be patient. It wasn’t until the past two months maybe that I finally said to myself, “Slow down and stop trying so hard. Just wait and see what happens.” It was in the waiting that I finally received a job I had always wanted but wasn’t sure I would ever get. The point of this is to say that I have had to learn patience and as a result, my word for 2022 has come to pass. When God promises you something, you have to let go of your desire to be in control. Be still and wait. Learn to be patient through obedience. You take those first few steps and He will follow through.

All in all, it has been a year. One full of memories made and forever cherished. My writing has progressed on a level where I don’t even recognize how I used to write anymore. College has gone by so quickly, I can hardly believe graduation is nearing the corner. People have come and gone, but I’m so grateful for every lesson learned. And to those who have stuck around all these years and haven’t gotten sick of my rants and transparency, I love you and appreciate you dearly.

Happy new year! Praying that the promises God has made to you will start to unravel and blessings will fall over you and your loved ones this following year. Cheers to ‘23.

Sincerely, M