Dear friends, As we step into this new year together, I’ve found myself in a place of deep reflection, and one word keeps coming up for me— gratitude . Not the “paint a smile on it” kind—but the grounded kind that can hold joy and sorrow in the same breath. I want you to hear this clearly—I care about you. I’m praying for you. And I believe we’re being invited into a deeper way of living—God first, always. The Permission to Feel (Resist Nothing) Gratitude starts with honesty. Sometimes tragedies come—loss, heartbreak, surprise turns—and it’s hard to feel thankful in the moment. That’s okay. Faith isn’t pretending; faith is bringing the real you to a real God. I’ve learned to resist nothing. Not because everything is easy, but because fighting reality usually multiplies suffering. When I feel fear, anxiety, grief, or impostor feelings, I’m practicing something new—welcoming them instead of wrestling them. Sometimes, I’ll literally imagine a table in front of me and say, “Hello my...