This Little Sign

2023 is fast approaching and we will enter it with a lot of uncertainty in our personal lives and in our world. The last two or three years have been the strangest ever in my lifetime. I personally was blindsided by the unimaginable that occurred and is still occurring in our world.

Years ago, New Year’s Eve was a sad time for me. It was like leaving a good friend behind. Then more recently, I was happy to leave the year behind and walk into a new and, hopefully, better one. Now I stand in the doorway looking back in awe, and with great disbelief, of all that transpired in our world in 2022. I cannot believe the blatant wickedness and corruptness that blankets our world. 2023 has me even more concerned.

Even so, the blessings of the past year have made me ever so grateful. ♥️

This little sign hangs in my sunroom. It is a reminder to me to never give up on hope. Hope that not all days will be bad days. Maybe, just maybe, the good days will outnumber the tough ones. Even for just a little while.

The best is yet to come. What does it mean to me? And what does it mean to you?

Is the best a better place financially?

Does it mean that life as a whole will be easier to manage?

Does the best mean less tears and more laughter?

Does it mean an advancement in your job or a move to a new location?

Or, does it refer to the status of a relationship?

Is the best some secret code that will be cracked to reveal everything you’ve ever dreamed of and longed for?

Is the best the betterment of our community, our country, our world? Because these are deteriorating rapidly.

Is the best found in personal happiness? And will there be more of it?

I’ve learned in my six decades here on earth (and yes, I’ve learned the hard way) that happiness is truly a state of mind. Happiness is not found in material things because the newness and pleasure wear off and then you are left with an emptiness that needs refilling. Happiness is not even found in another person. People will fail you. It’s not a matter of if, but when. This isn’t because they choose to let you down. But they are human and that’s what humans do on occasion. Basing your happiness and contentment on someone else to fulfill will only set you up for heartache. Happiness comes from within.

But I also know that we can be so beaten down and depleted in life that our will and our spirit are so weakened…even to the point of being broken…where we’ve lost the ability to draw up any form of happiness from within. I know this first hand. And that is why I am making necessary changes in my life to remove the toxicity and heal…both in my mind and body. Through this transitioning period, I am trusting God to lead me, heal me, and shape me into a better person than I was yesterday.

As much as I’d like to believe this little wooden sign will deliver, I know that we were never promised a life here without pain, trial, and sorrow. We were never promised fairness on this earth. If that were the case no one would strive for Heaven. No one would have the desire to seek Jesus or even be grateful for His existence.

This little sign is, though, a reminder of hope. The best is yet to come but is not necessarily in the way we envision the best. Heaven is the ultimate the best for sure. But the little arrow points me in the direction of change, both necessary and positive, that need to be made in my life. And as I continue to grow and mature, I can see that the best here on earth is actually found within me. ♥️

Philippians 4:11b for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

Andi

Romans 8:38,39 I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.