Best and Worst of 2013...

My photo a day prompt the other day was "the best bits of 2013" and yet as I sit here and reflect on the year I can't help but remember "the worst bits of 2013".  The year began in a dark place for me, full of isolation and heavy with tears.  Feeling cold, empty, confused and alone.

 And yet I don't want to forget it. I don't want to forget the feeling of coming out of that dark place into glorious sunshine.  Arriving in a place full of healing and grace and hope.

There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:

A right time for birth and another for death,

A right time to plant and another to reap,

A right time to kill and another to heal,

A right time to destroy and another to construct,

A right time to cry and another to laugh,

A right time to lament and another to cheer,

A right time to make love and another to abstain,

A right time to embrace and another to part,

A right time to search and another to count your losses,

A right time to hold on and another to let go,

A right time to rip out and another to mend,

A right time to shut up and another to speak up,

A right time to love and another to hate,

A right time to wage war and another to make peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Father God, grant me discernment in 2014. Help me to understand what "time" it is.  Guide me through the next year's challenges and help me to celebrate the moments of joy.  Remind me I can't have the best bits without also having the worst bits, but that you are there no matter what time it is.  Thank you Lord for your grace. Thank you for you love. Amen.