Another year comes to a close, stating the obvious. Writing the title of this post, I suddenly see: whenever there is an ending, there is a new beginning. Endings and beginnings go together. We may not care for the ending, sometimes an ending is horrible in that moment, other times it is a great relief to be done with something, but always there is some sort of new birth, and always the new birth comes out of what ended.
Sweetie-pie and I took a walk around to see the yard. These photos are from today. The hydrangea leaf buds above come out of the mild and, thankfully, fairly wet winter. Everyone told me it would rain every afternoon here, but people say a lot of things. That is buds from the native yellow rhododendron to the right. Last summer I pruned the straggly bush quite heavily. These new buds of life are at one of the cuts. That’s the way of life. A lot of growth has gone on below, in the dark soil, where I added compost and the rain soaked it down. All that comes on the bush comes from what was last year.
Look at this– it is an aloe bloom! The first I have ever in my life experienced.
I can name 2012 as my year of the aloe bloom. A surprise, a gift, a marvel. The information I found on the internet said that only well-cared-for aloe plants, ones that get everything they need just so, will bloom. Well, look at the plant this bloom came out of.
I sat the plant there last spring, and it has been on it’s own. It has struggled through drought and heat and cold–last night was 30 degrees. I don’t know what to say to it, except I have learned that miracles happen every day, if we will but see them.
As I write this, my grandson is over at the ancient Royal typewriter, banging on the keys. He brings me a piece of paper. It has faint imprints of red ink! My gosh, the thing has to be sixty years old! It was a gift from my dear father-in-law, gone many years now, and here is his 5-year-old great-grandson playing with it. Life does go on.
I have many hopes and dreams for the coming year. I’m sure you do, too. I pray that you get to experience half of them, maybe the most important is to keep on going and looking for the miracles.
Blessings,
CurtissAnn
Curtiss Ann Matlock 
4 responses to “Just Now at Year’s End, Year’s Beginning”
Well hello again. Yes, endings are always new beginnings, if we choose to see it that way. Sometimes we get stuck and dwell on the ending and forget to open the door to a new beginning, especially if the ending is painful. The loss of a loved one, the destruction of a home, the pain of violence. We tend to hold on to these and forget that there is a door, a door that we have to open, need to open, sooner or later. Our lives are so much better if we chooose to open the door as soon as possible.
Open the door, and move on. Living in the past only brings sadness and suffering when it is left to slither around in our heads. It frightens us, it causes us pain, it keeps us in bondage. In order to see rebirth and growth, we must lock the past away and keep it hidden, not forgotten. Never forgotten, just out of the way so new growth can begin. Like your hand pruning the shrub, you must cut away the old to encourage the new.
Like the sun rising each morning, there is a special awe about this event. We see the reds and organges dancing across a dark sky as the sun pushes it’s glory into the day and chases away the gloom of the night. And this is the quietest part of the day, the night creatures are resting and the day creatures haven’t quite awaken yet. Yes, it is still and quiet as the entire creation awaites a new beginning. For some it will be a time for rest, yet for others it is a time of renewal.
2012 has ended, it has been replaced with 2013 and a chance for a new start. I intend to make 2013 better than 2012. I’ll hold the memories, both the good and the bad, but I’ll only bring them out when I need to be reminded of something or someone. I won’t hold them so close, that I miss the new beginning. I will close the door to the past and jump through the open door, feet first and eyes wide open……just to see what God has in store for me this year. Like a child anticipating a gift, because that’s what it is….A gift. A new and spectacular gift that belongs to you and you alone. Oh, you can share it, but nobody will appriciate it more than you, simply because it was given to you. Enjoy your new beginnings, they’re a beautiful thing…..if you will only see them.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful and blessed New Year.
Debbie
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Amen, Miss Debbie. Thanks for sharing your wisdom. I think the years tend to encourage us, shape us into letting go of the past, if we will but let it. These days, I’m ready for moving on– let go or get dragged is an apt saying. Happy New Year!
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Love this! Yes, of course, endings, and then beginnings. Thank you for putting this out for us to benefit from, Curtiss Ann. You are just going through life with your finger on the pulse – God bless!
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Wishing you a very happy 2013. May all of your dreams & projects be come true…
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