The year is quickly coming to a close (in fact, 2017 will end in exactly 57 minutes from the time I’m writing ing this), and 2018 will arrive before anyone knows it. I say this a lot and I truly mean it: time does fly.
Let me say something in all honesty… A lot of people complain about how bad 2016 was, then they complain about how their 2017 was supposed to be “their” year and it wasn’t. Now we’re repeating the same process. Here’s what you and I must realize: The year will be what we make it.
Let me shine some light on one of the things that made my year: People.
Since moving to France I’ve really had no choice but to meet people, seeing as I knew no one, but this year in particular has led to many new acquaintances. If you’ve been reading my sporadic blog posts for a while you may remember a previous post entitled “That Was Unexpected.” If you’re new, welcome! Moving on. I wrote that post when I met one of the many people this year has brought into my life.
I’m not even going to count the people I’ve met with year because I don’t want to leave anyone out, but what I can say for certain is that each new acquaintance that I’ve made has been in response to my first prayer upon arriving in France: God send me friends.
I’ve made acquaintances at weddings, through my brothers, through social media, and my favourite… NAYC17. At Congress alone I met at least 30 people, all of which I shared a connection with without having previously known them. That wouldn’t have been possible had God not sent my family to France.
I stay in contact with some more than with others, but that doesn’t mean the other people mean less. I truly believe that God placed each one into my life in answer to that prayer that I prayed three years ago. Whether they were from North or South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, Asia, (I have yet to meet someone from Antarctica, but six continents out of seven is still pretty impressive 😉 Little old me somehow managed to find people from all around the world.
So. What made my year? People did. New friends did. That bearded bus driver, the one that waves to me and smiles every morning, he did. God did.
I think everyone should take a step back and think for a minute, because I’m sure if you looked hard enough, you would find at least one good thing that made your 2017. A gesture, an act of kindness, thoughtfulness, a new friend, a stranger buying your coffee, or finally publishing that book of yours.
Little or small, it couldn’t have been all bad. How good was your 2017, really?
🙂
Girl in France 