Dear Honey Run Friends,
This time of year is always a roller coaster of emotions. I am coming off the high of Christmas, dealing with the lack of sunshine and constant gray skies, the cold is settling in for winter, and I reflect on the past year of life. It is good to reflect on life and evaluate the good and bad of the previous year along with the changes I want to make to ensure the coming year I use my time more wisely. What is your routine? What does the dawn of a new year mean for you?
As I age the one thing that becomes apparent is time is my greatest gift. How I spend my time and who I give my time to are clear indicators of what I value. Do I place work achievements ahead of family? Do I place God ahead of all other endeavors? Do I watch tv more than interact with loved ones? Do I give my time to lift up and help those who are hurting or in need? Do I place my wants, desires, and dare I say needs ahead of all those around me? If today was my last day of drawing breath in this life and I stopped to evaluate my existence in this world, am I proud of my time spent consuming the world’s resources? Did I love everyone I encountered? Did my life have any meaning? Did I make an eternal difference in anyone’s life?
These questions may seem heavy at times, but they are necessary and important. I love life and try to live it to the fullest each day. I love people even though they can hurt me the most and often disappoint me. I love the world that God has given us even with the sorrow and pain. I have found that if I let go and take myself out of the supreme importance and place God at the head of my life as He should be life makes sense. I don’t have all the answers nor should I. I am not God, and I am not all powerful. All I can do is give life my all, love my neighbor as myself, and be grateful for all the blessings I have in my life. No matter my lot, I have much to be grateful for in this life. The most awe-inspiring things in this life are free and available to all. Love, friendship, nature, life, and communing with God are the greatest gifts to each of us in this world and they don’t cost a thing except your time and devotion.
So, as I embark on another blessed year in this life, I choose to be grateful. I choose to be intentional about how I use my time, I choose to place others ahead of myself, I choose to acknowledge and honor the God who created me and has given me life. I pray that as you reflect on your past year and look to your future you choose to be a blessing to this world and leave a lasting love that continues on well beyond your time on earth. I pray that we all decide to love our neighbor as our ourselves and we see how this world will change quickly because of this single premise.
Happy New Year from your reflective and intentional Innkeeper,
Jason
God bless you for that touching message.I hope to visit Honey Run sometime this year for a personal retreat to do some of my artwork,and to contemplate.
Jason, thank you so much for being so transparent. If we genuinely love those around us and honestly care about them I believe there is nothing we won’t be able to talk about. If their broken from their past we can give them a tool to help restore. Just putting an arm around their shoulder to help guide them through the uncertainty of life. We all can’t be everywhere but we can be somewhere for someone if we take time to pray and ask God to show us where to go.
Gods richest blessing for you Jason and all the guests that will have the opportunity to spend time at beautiful Honey Run Inn.
I always look forward to reading your inspiring letters!