Well, I cannot complain about 2011. Overall, I am thankful that God gave me, and all of my loved ones, one more full year of life. That was the gift of 2011 for all of us.
There were good days and bad days with ups and downs. Jayna has a violin bow exercise that sums it up well:
"Up like a rocket, down like rain,
Back and forth like a choo-choo train."
There were dry moments when the routine made us forget the joy of living, and the slippery patches when we felt our feet would fail. But again, the chance to experience all of it is a gift, and to spend life with family and loved ones makes it even better.
The sermon we received yesterday sums up our forward view for 2012. It was based on Psalm 1.
"Blessed is the man ... [whose] delight is in the law of the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season
And whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers."
I hope to be a LIVING tree this year, that grows and matures, that bears fruit, that offers shade to those who need it, and that lives as a testament to God's goodness and love.