Dear 2017,

Your friend, 2016, was definitely one for the books. It was crazy to say the least – crazy good, crazy bad, and everything else in between. I’ve definitely learned a lot of lessons not only about myself but about friendship, family, and life in general. That’s not what I want to focus on in this letter, though. What I want to focus on is the hopes that I have for you.

In a few short days, people will wake up on the first day of January and 2016 will be a goner. There’s a line from the movie “Forrest Gump” and one of the girls mentions that a new year is a time to start all over. It’s a beautiful thing, isn’t it? The thought of a fresh start for a new year is wonderful. Some people loved 2016 and some people didn’t. Everyone has a different experience, but as for me, I enjoyed it. Sure, there were some difficult, terrible times, but it was a great year overall. I woke up every morning, had the opportunity to go to school, family and friends were with me, and I got to complete a whole year of life again. That last one is one of the greatest blessings by itself.

As for you, 2017, I hope that you’re absolutely amazing. I hope that you contain many lessons for me to learn, numerous memories to be made with family and friends, and countless blessings from the One that has created and blessed us with you. Our Earth has experienced in the past, and I hope that this is the year that more people take care of it. I hope that all of the babies born this year are born healthy, that all of the ill people will be healed, all of the people that are hurting will find joy, and that everyone will try to be more kind to one another. Most of all, I hope that more people find Our Creator, God, and put all of their hope in Him.

My faith in God has always been part of my life, but it wasn’t until this year that I really started opening up to Him. When something went wrong, I talked to Him about it. When something went well, I thanked Him for it. When I was anxious about something, I put my faith in Him, and He was always listening. I couldn’t see Him, but I could feel Him there. That’s what I want for more people to have this year. God is your constant companion, protector, friend, and father. There’s a song called “Find Rest” by Francesca Battistelli and the first few lines of it go like this:

“He never sleeps, He never slumbers. He’s been awake at every hour. No tear catches Him by surprise. He’s never lost, He never runs out. He never lives in the shadows of doubt. No fear catches Him by surprise. Find rest, my soul. Put your hope in God.”

I heard that song at the beginning of the year and decided to try it. It’s not something that comes naturally at first, but you get used to running to Him in your times of need or joy. That’s the main thing that I hope many people will get out of this year: a better relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Be good to us, 2017. Be a year full of blessings, love, grace, joy, health, faith, and God. I’ll see you soon.

Best wishes,

Katie