New Days Ahead!

You know the saying, "You first must tear the house down to build it back up the right way". Well this year has been about tearing my old, dirty, broken house down and replacing it with a new one. There were days when I felt nothing was changing, nothing was happening. Rain storms came and made the ground to muddy for building, cold weather came and caused a period of waiting to go by.Then days came when I thought I could see the frame going up, making my house strong again. Slowly I began to feel the walls going up around my house, but there were still many rough edges that needed to be sanded down and covered with dry wall. Finally, I awoke one day and realized, my house is near completion. This new house is becoming much more snug and cozy than the last one. It is much safer and more calming to be in. There no longer are shaky walls and a loose ceiling, those have been replaced by a strong frame and good shingles. One feels safe in this house, protected, peaceful. I now can invite people into this house without them fearing for their lives. I am happy with the new changes and would never want to go back to the old house. However, it was so hard to build that If I had not known what I was pursuing I would have quit for the difficulty of  building it. There were days when rain flooded the basement and the foundation and I had to rip it all out and start over. I could not have completed it without the encouragement of my fellow builders and helpers and without the design the architect gave to me. It was so worth it! I will continue to pursue the finished design, I have still a few more changes to make before completion is achieved. Soon though, I see the completion coming...
I wrote this  to help explain in a word picture what my year in OYM was. It has been about tearing down my old way of thinking and reacting to things and replacing it with a new perspective, a new way of seeing. I can now look at things for the most part, from a clear perspective, and not one that is influenced by past experiences or emotions that have no connection to the current situation. I am no longer"triggered" would be one way to say it. Although there are still days when I feel I am losing the battle, It is much easier for be to bounce back to a positive perspective now than it used to be. I had to learn many new tools to help with the building of this new house. Some of those tools included conflict resolution, learning to deal with painful experiences in a healthy way. Learning to communicate effectively and think the best of others and listening to group wisdom even when I don't agree. This year has been fundamental in helping me grow into a mature woman who can effectively deal with the conflicts and challenges that arise with everyday life. I owe so much to the leaders, all of whom are volunteer based, of OYM who stuck it out this year through the good and the bad with all of us. I cannot thank them enough for the time and love they poured into each of us. I also could not have completed this year without the help and support and life from the author and perfecter of my faith, JESUS CHIRST. Thanks be to god who always gives us the victory through Christ Jesus!