Wintering.
The new year
In this month of January, let us remember that man invented the Gregorian calendar. This nature is not reborn on January 1st. January is winter. It’s cold. Isn’t it time to go in and rest? Reborn in spring? This is the first time in the New Year that I feel this desire not to jump on the trend of the new year, the new me. I am led to rest, to wait, to recharge my batteries and to let nature take care of my body and my mind. My heart is strained to discover what is truly important and to prepare for it in the seasons to come. Nothing is new in nature at present. The seeds are still curled up in the cold soil, biding their time, the animals hibernate, and the trees sleep. Have you ever thought that the pressure we feel with each new year is man-made? This year, I refused to allow myself to feel that way. I have to remember this when I ask my husband about our to-do list. Spring is the time of all things new, when growth occurs and the sun stays longer; the days become busy; the food is full of flavor. Let’s prepare for this. Save your energy for those days. What will you build, make and create when the time comes?
I will celebrate a new year; we made a vision board as a family. We know what we expect from ourselves and our family this year, but I’ll let nature take the lead. The temperature tells me that it is not time for agitation but for rest. To come in and snuggle up. To read good books, watch good movies, love my family and enjoy our busy schedule this season. No sports are taking place at this time. Just work, school, our separate youth groups, and Bible studies. So more of that to savor and be grateful for for family dinners and slow evenings. The sun knows it, it sets early. We should take more advice from them this winter. Let’s wait. Let’s rest and figure out what we want before jumping into something when our body hasn’t had enough time to relax in preparation for it.
The Lord will fight for you; you just need to stay still. Exodus 14:14
This January is different. The end of the year was different. It’s slower. It’s softer. The numbers may have changed by the date, but for my family and I, we are slowing down and enjoying the winter. I began to remember how New Years in the past made us feel like we had to create and invent everything all over again, and this new version had to appear before the glitz and glamor of Christmas decor had even been organized and put away. We all make a list of resolutions, get a gym membership that’s dusty by mid-February, and then spend the next 10 months feeling like we’ve failed. What if this year was different? I started to think. What if we observed how nature manages the weather and let that rule the year instead?
It’s winter. Nature’s hibernation should guide us. Let’s all enjoy the comfort of winter. Let’s continue to reflect on what the past year has brought us, what has taught us, and what has stirred us within. What if we gathered around a fire and thought about what awaits us when we bloom? Does it have to be a NEW version of ourselves, or can it be a well-rested version? Isn’t this new to all of us?
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in tranquility and confidence is your strength. »
Nightly reading from Luke for Christmas has become nightly Bible reading after dinner, and that time is still a precious time for all of us. I see us all coming together at the end of the year, stronger, closer, and healthier.
At church this month, we were all asked to choose a word that inspired us for 2026. Unknowingly, my husband and I chose the same word.
To focus.
My daughter chose Believe.
My son chose Commit.
For the new mirror above our fireplace, I will have a sticker made that says “Focus, Believe, Commit.” We will appreciate this reminder as the year goes on. But we’re not going to embark on a new and improved version of ourselves and our family. We will take action, share responsibilities, support each other, huddle together and let winter do its work.
If animals know not to rush through the year based on the calendar, we should be aware of that too. The new year begins in spring. When growth begins to bud, green appears at the ends of the branches after the ice melts. When the sounds start earlier and the sun stays longer, that’s when our year will begin.
Give yourself permission to rest. To be renewed this winter. And in spring, a better version appears, a rested soul. No matter how last year ended, we can all slow down this month and next, let the weather be our guide. For the first time in my life, I can honestly say, “Hey, Winter, it’s nice to meet you. »
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Bohdan Bevz
Kimberly Trigo always loved writing. It started with poetry when she was a teenager. Kimberly is a stay-at-home mom who homeschools her twins and builds a Barndo with her husband, so life is busy! She works part-time in finance and loves helping people achieve financial success. Lots of hats, but her favorite hat is the maternity one.
