Christmas Letter 2022

Dear Friends,

I can’t let a year go by without writing a Christmas letter.  It’s been a tradition for me for more than 30 years, I believe.  Even if I have no idea what my message will be, and it’s just a few days prior to Christmas, I have to sit down, say a prayer and hope some kind of inspiration will find its way on the page.

My year has really been a bit consumed with my job and my after-hour job of renovating a 120+year-old downtown building.  Almost every night, weekend and vacation day, for three years now, I’ve been working on a 4,500-sq.ft. building that originally, nearly needed to be torn down.  It’s a process…a puzzle…a you-never-know-what-hurdle-you-will-need-to-jump deal.  But it is also inspiring to save a structure with so many memories and purpose in our town’s history. Welcome to historic preservation.

In last year’s Christmas letter, I wrote about the coffee company that planned to utilize the space.  It was a hard moment for us this summer when we realized the numbers were simply not going to work for the investment/value of the building and the tenants’current business model.  Sometimes, things simply just don’t work out.

I think sometimes God leads us down a road that will have more than a bump; it will seem like a mistake or some sort of failure.  We can easily catch ourselves with limited vision, thinking the worst has happened, when in reality – it was all part of His plan…not just for ourselves, but for those on our journey as well - teaching us and taking us into a direction that we would have not gone, preparing us for something new.

That’s what I have to be believe in the situation of my building and so many other things in my life now that I can look back.  For now, I’m to the pretty stages of the renovation and God’s hand is all over it, because it is really coming together.  Not only in design, but in the possibilities of who will utilize the space.  Let’s all pray that it all works out, because I am going by faith and I savor the day to see the space as a community gathering space, a downtown anchor and a regional draw that will make us proud.  God willing, as they say.

If I take this year and consider how it relates to the Christmas story, like I always do in this letter, it would be this.  Consider how many key roles of Jesus’s birth and life went down a path, only to be informed of a road block and u-turn, like this year has felt.  Mary didn’t plan on giving birth to God’s son, but she did.  Joseph didn’t plan on marrying a woman with child, but he did.  He probably also didn’t plan on hiding from Herod after the birth of his first-born, taking twists and turns before arriving to Nazareth. Wise men didn’t plan on following a star in the desert to arrive to a stable, but they did.  Elizabeth didn’t plan on having a child who would prepare the way for the son of God, but she did. Fishermen and a tax collector didn’t plan on being disciples; persecutors such as Paul didn’t plan on switching teams to preach God’s word and then be the one persecuted.  Their plans changed; and they pivoted.

During Covid, and in some cases after, you heard of stories about companies that pivoted.  You know the examples.  From executives to small business owners, they had to embrace work from home, online and pick-up needs, outdoor seating and drive-thrus.  They had to get creative.  They had to make things happen.

I know of friends that have had to pivot.  They have had their worlds rocked this year; the rug pulled out from them is an understatement.  But you know what.  God is there; Jesus is there.  There’s always a plan.  It is going to be for our good.  He is going to take the worst of the worst and make us stronger. We’re going to learn and grow from it.  It will inspire others, it will change our thinking, it will be for the best.  We just have to hang on, believe, know that we have the greatest gift of all with Jesus as our Savior, Redeemer, and Master of Changing Plans…for our good.

My favorite verse will probably always be Jeremiah 29; 11 -“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

I pray that all of us embrace change in the new year.  That we stay the course, knowing we better have our seat belts on, because He might have us take a sharp turn or a sudden stop.  But regardless, thanks to the birth of God’s son which we celebrate every December 25th, we have hope and a future and a plan for our lives…despite what the challenges or situation may be.

I am so fortunate to have good friends throughout my life, who may not always be nearby or in contact, but you helped me stay the course so many times and I know you are there when I need you.  Merry Christmas to all of you – I hope our paths cross this new year.

Love to you all,

Jennifer