My Wish For You-Peace

Peace

Years ago we used to make fun of beauty contestants who when asked what they wanted to see in the future they smiled and said, “World peace.” I’m starting to think those girls gave the right answer.

There’s much to be said for “Peace on Earth and goodwill towards men,” especially when it’s in short supply.

2016

What a year 2016 has been. I don’t know about you but I have mixed emotions about it. If 2016 were a Facebook friend I’d seriously be thinking about unfriending them. Life threw a bunch of lemons at my family and friends this year and at times I’m like a dog who wants to sit around and lick my wounds.

What Went Wrong

I’ll spare you the details but my heart still aches over the death of BAM. It was one of the highlights of my life (a conference I helped host) and I loved it like a person! My partners were awesome and I will miss them so much, but the high of being with other women my age who get what I do and who loved celebrating what we do, was a thrill I don’t expect to ever have again in this life time. Thank you to everyone who attended in Nashville and in Vegas. I LOVE YOU!

The death of BAM was a big blow, but when a momma’s babies and grandchildren hurt, well that’s a hurt like no other. One grandbaby was premature and spent weeks being hooked up to machines and monitored. Another had eye surgery. There were other family dramas as well, but unlike some people we keep our dramas private and don’t post them on Facebook for all the world to see.

Just suffice it to say that all families have problems. If you think they don’t, that you know a picture perfect family, I challenge you to spy in their windows (not really). There are NO perfect families but we all love each other and when times get tough, we know who has our back, our family. You deal with stuff and you move on because you have no choice, but as far as I’m concerned there was way too much STUFF to deal with in 2016.

The Election

Another reason 2016 sucked was the stupid election. I don’t care who you voted for, it sucked. I hate the political ads, the negativity and what it did to my Facebook timeline feed. I hate seeing people upset and saying nasty things. That’s all I’m going to say about that, but I will add one more, “It sucked.”

A Different View

Then I look around and I see my friend Donna whose heart almost got the best of her. She’s home recovering now, thankfully, but what a curve ball she was thrown!

I have another friend whose son is not in contact with her and she hasn’t seen her granddaughter in over a year. Talk about stinky holidays. How do you celebrate when there is an empty space at your table.

Another friend, Tracey, a few years younger than me is fighting for her life as her kidney’s are shutting down.

A neighbor just buried his step-daughter and today he will bury his wife. Both lost their battles to cancer.

A young girl in our community and a lady at my church were diagnosed with cancer and just began treatments.

And of course I’m still mourning Martha. It’s been over a year since her death but that doesn’t matter when you lose a loved one. Every holiday, every day, you miss them.

2016

As I look back over my life it wasn’t the worst year I have ever had, 1989 still holds that honor, but it was a tough one. It’s the kind of year that adds white to your hair, wrinkles to your face and puts you on your knees in prayer.

But that’s life. None of us are guaranteed an easy life or a peaceful existence here on earth. There are millions of displaced people, including orphans, who are wandering the globe in search of a better life. Shame on me for whining. Shame on me for waiting so long in this post to say how thankful I am for my home, my family, my friends (and my Facebook friends) and my country.

And shame on me if I don’t do my part to keep peace in my family, my community and my country. I watched a lot of videos of this song before I chose the one I thought fit this post best. I hope you’ll take a moment and watch it too.

 

The Big 3

The same things get me through the tough times again and again. Faith, Family and Friends. Here’s hoping you have someone to lean on and a strong faith to get you through whatever life brings your way in 2017.

Remember the song in Toy Story? To borrow a famous line from it, here at NanaHood….”You’ve got a friend in me.”

Thank you for being my friend. Come back soon and often. May there be peace in your life in 2017.

world-peace

 

 

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23 Comments

  2. Okay, I just read this and you made me cry! You are so wise and so right! Love, love, love you back and need to get together with you soon! You make me happy! Hugs, Teresa

  3. Hey Joan, Love and hugs to you and hoping we can get together in 2017. We need a plan! Happy New Year my friend!

  8. Thank you so much for commenting, Beth! Happy New Year to you and thanks so much for being a cyber friend!

  12. Peace and friendship to you. It’s been a hard one full of loss and acrimony, but we’re still here.
    Merry Christmas and the most positive of New Years.

  13. Hugs and high fives to you for moving through a number of challenges and opportunities and getting on the other side with faith, grace and humor. Here’s to a wonderful 2017 for you and your loved ones.

  16. Opening your heart to your readers is so powerful. We might not all have experienced your hurts, but we have our own and cherish your words of wisdom to remember those who suffer more than we do and to reach out always with comfort and love in our hearts. Beth

  17. Teresa,

    Hang in there. Here’s wishing hope and renewal for you in 2017. Thank you also for clearing things up about BAM. My sister and I had gone online to find the next conference and could only find the one in Las Vegas. Like you, I’m sorry it is gone. We looked forward to networking with bloggers our own age.

    Merry Christmas, cindy

  21. Thank you for thinking of me sweet Teresa! I wish I could comfort you and fix the BAM dismantle. I know the others are okay with it; but I will always remember your excitement and passion at our Cracker Barrel breakfast. You never said a word, but I knew something big was in store for you…how lucky for BAM when you came aboard. I’ve loved watching Nanahoid grow, grow, grow! And your easy lighthearted postings each day with the cutest grandkids and pets. You’ve been an awesome mentor and friend….thank you for your time, advice and personal attention! I love your happy heart…even with sadness just beneath the surface. I’m with you… 2016 started well; then went to hell! Now we give hope and grace a chance. Hugs and extra blessings for little Ana making this Christmas extra special for you all! ????

  22. Vince Gill, with the voice of an angel, singing “Let there be peace on earth” probably made the angels who sang at Jesus’ birth have a flash of envy.
    I love you, Teresa.
    You’re the best.
    God blessed me, the day I needed a ride to Atlanta.
    A five hour car ride gave birth to a new no-longer-virtual friendship.
    There sure were parts of this year that sucked, but God is busy conforming each of His children more and more into the image of His Son. And while that’s sometimes the most painful process in the world, how can we complain about the outcome? No, we bow the knee, just as His Son did, and say, “YOUR will be done”, though it hurts to the core of our souls.
    He’s not done with you, yet.
    And I kinda hope something even more thrilling than BAM shows up on your horizon, so that you can keep generating those kinds of opportunities for strong women to encourage each other!

    Love, love, love you!

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