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PROGRAM D-7736

We’re in the last week of 2016, and as December 31 looms closer and closer, it’s a natural time to assess the year. What happened in 2016 that was significant—even life-changing—for you? Did you reach your goals? What surprises did you encounter? Would you call it a good year or not?

For me, 2016 was definitely a memorable year—in many ways. And as I survey all that has happened, all the changes I’ve encountered, all the good and hard times, I want to make certain that I don’t miss the lessons God has taught me, the blessings he has bestowed, the miracles he has performed. In other words, not miss God’s big picture in my life.

Our life’s journeys can become so clogged with activity, with things we have to do and responsibilities we must meet, that we can just miss the big picture—at least, that is true for me. I want to encourage you to review this past year, and ask God to help you see his big picture for you in 2016. Let’s not miss the forest for the trees.

My year began on the last day of 2015, when I was married to a long-time friend, Rex Lowman, and my name changed from Mary Whelchel to Mary Lowman. This was a gigantic paradigm shift for me, after being single for over forty years. I love being married and enjoying the companionship and the love that we share. I’m confident this was and is God’s plan for us, and I am grateful for this totally unexpected change in my life.

But of course, change always brings challenges, and adjusting to sharing my time, my space and my life with another person on a daily basis has shown me things about myself that aren’t always so nice. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”  That’s often how God uses relationships in our lives, to sharpen us. So, I am grateful that in the midst of the fun and excitement of a new marriage this past year, God has used this new relationship to show me some selfishness, some rough edges that he wants to polish in my life.

How about you? Did 2016 hold for you some relationship changes or challenges? Don’t miss the big picture—that God wants to sharpen you through the relationship. Appreciate the things you are learning, even as iron scrapes against iron!