Here we are. "Daily Gratitude - Year 13" is now in the books. 4,745 plus three leap years means 4,748 days of daily gratitude. The end of a year means it is time to decide if this is the end of this public journey. Do we go another year together?
Although I really like the number 13, it does not feel right to end here. Seven is a number that has God significance. Fourteen is a multiple of seven, and the number seven is in scripture many times. Seven is said to be the number of completion or perfection. Two cycles of seven, at the end of 2026, it would be 5,113 days. Let's see what 2026 brings.
I looked into the number fourteen in scripture. The number 14 is associated with completeness. Some call it a double measure of God's spiritual perfection or it can symbolize deliverance and salvation. We find the number fourteen in genealogies, festal cycles, and divine deliverances, thereby weaving a pattern that believers seek to understand and appreciate.
Notably, Matthew's genealogy of Jesus includes thee sets of fourteen generations listed. The Passover Lamb is chosen on the 10th day and sacrificed on the 14th day. Interesting, right?
In the past 13 years, so much has happened in our world, our communities, and in our personal lives. My one little word for 2025 was reflect. I have tried to be intentional about reflection. This year, I find my heart being called back to the word "enough." It is closely related to gratitude. Being content with what we have is where true abundance begins.
My friend Stephanie always says "Be where your feet are." Be fully present. Be all in. If you join me for year fourteen, please know that I am so grateful for your companionship on the journey. I appreciate every indication that it was the right word at the right time.
The last thing I do every day before posting is offer it to God for his guidance. I ask him to stop the post if anything would be hurtful, not helpful, or wrong. Several times... to my frustration... it has happened. I am grateful for any interference from His hand.
I am not a Bible scholar, but I love His Word passionately. I am a seeker and a learner. It has been a compass and a guide since I learned to read at age four. It is a treasure trove of mysteries and histories that allow my name and yours to be written in The Lamb's Book of Life.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." -Isaiah 43:18-19
I like to end each year with the reminder of what I learned that very first year. "Practicing daily gratitude does not change God, it changes me." If you have never kept a gratitude journal, just try it for a month.
I invite you to walk with me in 2026, with a special thank you to those of you who have been on this journey from the beginning on January 1, 2013. If you are new even this week, I am so grateful you are here.
Today, I am grateful for time to reflect on day 4,748.
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