a very good year

Have you ever been to a fancy restaurant and ordered a bottle of wine? They bring it out to you, show you the bottle, pour a little, and wait while you sample it. Of course I know nothing about wine, other than the simple fact that I like it, so I usually just sip it and say something really profound like, "Mmmm tasty!" and wait for the snobbish waiter to go away and gossip about me in the kitchen. Well another thing that has always confused me about wine is the claim that the bottle is from a "very good year." I'm sure it has something to do with the quality of the grapes from that particular harvest. Maybe there was more rain or fewer pests. The vines bore fruit that was beautiful, delicious, and fragrant.

This has become my theme for the new year. Not just because it has to do with wine and I can use it as an excuse to drink more of it, but for the deeper implications as well. You see, the year 2010 was a year of trial and struggle. Yes, there was much good to be thankful for. I have a job I was made for. I have a comfortable house and two snuggly mutts. I have fallen in love. But God had a plan for me this past year that was not an easy one. It was worthwhile, important, life-changing, but not easy. Struggles hit like crashing waves on rocky shores, pounding down my selfishness, my pride, my need for control. It's been tough.

Now as I look forward to 2011 I don't want to forget the lessons learned in the previous year. I want to use that season to carry me into a new one. From a season of drought to a season of plenty. The true change, however, is not my circumstances, but my heart. I may be tempted to give credit to "more rain" (money, time, relationships) and "fewer pests" (challenges, difficulties, strain and struggle). But the true cause for a sweeter fruit this year will be my hope in the Lord. As I draw closer to him and learn to trust him in his faithfulness my heart will grow, and grow strong. My roots will be deep. I will reach for the sun. I will produce a sweet harvest of love, compassion, wisdom, and grace. And at the end of this year, when it's all bottled and put away, I'll be able to look back and say, yes it was a very good year.


Blessings to you as you begin a new year. May the peace and hope that can only be found in Jesus be more real to you than ever as we continue through the journey of life.

Emily