30 Days 'Til 2016

As I flipped the calendar to December, yesterday, I realized there are only thirty days left of this year. 2016 is literally just around the corner! Automatically, I begin to think about what my goals should be. What do I hope to accomplish? What is going to take shape next year? Then I pause, and I reflect on the year.

I know I have done this numerous times in the past year, reflecting to see where I have been and what I have been through. I know I’ve shared it and it may seem redundant, but it is such a good reminder. The past year met me with setting goals to compete in two Spartans, and I did, both a Sprint and a Super. It met me with sharing a common goal with my husband, and working towards those goals together, in an effort to bring us closer, and it did (plus those common goals landed us in a fitness magazine). 2016 brought with it a little cancer hiccup and a couple other physical maladies, but I didn’t let it get me down and forged on. The Ultimate Oxygen Challenge this year brought an acceptance of simply doing what is right for my body regardless of whether or not it is responding the way I believe it should. It also brought with it challenges of persevering in order to change habits around my diet, exercise and most importantly spiritual practices. Finally, this past year brought with it a richer understanding of what it means to be a wife and mother, as well as help support and encourage others.

So as I ponder 2016, I don’t really have a clear list of goals, or things to accomplish. However, I do hope to pray more. A lot more. I do plan on continuing devotions and digging deeper into areas God leads me to, such as the "Shepherdess Rise Up" devotions. I do plan on continuing to eat healthy, whole nutrient dense foods, and I certainly plan on continuing to move my body. These aspects of my life have become so intertwined with who I am now, I don’t really have to set a goal to do it. It is just part of my lifestyle. Sort of like planning and cooking dinner every day, or making breakfast for my daughters every morning. Things I always hoped to do, are now part of my life, and I’m living it. God’s grace and mercy have brought me here.

I know God’s grace can now move me forward to other places. Places I see in my mind, yet really have no idea how it will take shape. Like the Shepherdess Rise Up series, I feel so unequipped to dig in and share with others. I feel like someone else is better suited. Better educated. Better versed. Better poised and with less baggage. But that is another thing I have been reminded of this past year. I can see the dream and know my assignments, and I don’t have to know how it’s all going to happen. I just have to know, trust and have faith in the One Who will make it happen. I just have to remain connected to Him, and everything else will fall into place. I just have to know I abide in Christ and that is really all that matters. He will bring the dreams to fruition. He will bring the words to my mouth. He will bring the insights to share. He will touch the place of hurt for the ones I love. He will bring correction where it is needed. He will, because He is faithful.

2016 may not be a year of crazy obstacle course races, or marathons, or competitions, or self-imposed challenges, but it will be a year of becoming more of everything God needs me to be, and that is all that really matters.