Greetings Rose Buddy! We have made it to the last day of our December writing prompt. Let’s take a moment to celebrate that shall we? Whoo-hoo! Now, this has been such a teachable experience for me. It gently reminded me Who is in charge of how and what I write and that my friends, is God. I’ve learned some things that I can do better and initiated some abilities that I was once too fearful to apply before this. Altogether, these twelve consecutive days of writing have stunningly increased my passion to write. I thoroughly appreciate all of you who have stayed connected for each day and those who will be catching up later. As I look back over the writings, I can truly say God moved through my heart and it translated through my hands. So without further adieu, here is the last topic for this writing prompt and the year! Humor me as I lead this prompt with my thoughts on the subject and an ode for my ending. Happy reading!

Normally, the next phase of our lives is looked at with promising hope and excitement. During my adolescent years, I was terribly eager to get to that next phase of life. Don’t quite know when that desire became etched in my mind. Sometimes, I wonder if I was groomed to not be satisfied with where I am now. Always looking for that next experience to fulfill my happiness meter. What if life was meant to be enjoyed outside of what I accomplish or what happens to me? Is that not “the life” we truly seek after? As I mature, I now believe that next chapters should be looked at as learning measures and not rushed exits. Oftentimes, when we reach that desired goal those moments of gratification are short lived. So then with much convincing, we strive to set another goal all to find ourselves back in the empty roost of our minds. A mind that persistently seeks after affirmation. Is that so bad? My answer is that it depends on what and who is doing the affirming for us. Searching for temporal recognition is exhausting because there is nothing that can truly affirm us outside of The One Who fashioned us.

As much as I had hope for that next phase of life in my younger years, something switched as I grew older. Not so much older in age, but in my walk with Christ. Softly singing to my Savior during intense moments of worship how He is my everything not realizing the weight of which I sang. Sure, it is fairly easy to claim such high adoration when life is seemingly smooth. Nothing outside of the normal inconvenient occurrences altered this blissful frame of mind. Funny how life has a way of honoring your words. See, I have grown to understand just how heavy words can be and its weight is not calculable. The only accurate way to measure it is through application and life makes practice. Rightfully so, the very chapters that I imagined differed from how it would actually look. Even still, those words carried over when my adulated plans for my life did not. Looking back on the things I have been through, the heaviness of those words made the hardship lighter. Focusing on Who is in charge of my next chapter granted me the permission to be unbending in my state of Joy. Looking ahead was never to be done in idolization, but preparation. Yes, I thought my parents would be here in the chapter I am living in now along with other loved ones. The sting of them not being here does not take away the Joy of God being forever present with me. This is how my heart is able to express hymns when the world tells me given the circumstances, I should be unhinged!

Please enjoy my Ode to Next Chapter.

Looking onward as a hopeful splendor,
Preconceived notions of fulfillment,
Her readiness marked with fire,
A fire You bestowed, A divine devour!
Consuming her very being
With a guarantee of restoring;
All to encompass Your Glory,
Angels unable to ascribe.

What once was has vanished,
But not entirely so,
Revealing what was clinged to,
Was never meant to stay!
A wrestled truth that stains her day.
He doused her stain with Blood!
What an abnormal remedy
But Blood equals life!

What’s next is now
No longer daunting
Freedom is not in a chapter
Its book has chapters.
Decorated with ornaments of,
A Permanent Comfort.
What’s next isn’t to be spurned,
Glory to Thee of my now and my next!