Gathering the Graces
January 21, 2021
When I was training to become a spiritual director, I learned a practice called Gathering the Graces, when our class would pause at the end of each weekend to take stock of the gifts and the wisdom we had received.
Each January, the Bridge of Hope board of directors and I meet for a board retreat where we focus on reflecting, learning, and planning for the year ahead. One of the things I bring to the table is the “highlights” of the previous year. I go through each of my director reports and pull out the moments of grace and gratitude for what we have learned and received, and how we have grown.
It’s easy to look back on 2020 and write it off as a difficult year. It truly was challenging in so many ways. However, when I paused to gather the graces of 2020, they were absolutely abundant. Our community showed up for us this past year in a big way. You all have been so generous. We had six families in our program in 2020! We pulled off virtual events for fundraising, church relations, and more. We doubled our staff! These are just a few of the big ones, but we are extremely grateful for the entire list.
I truly believe that gratitude yields abundance, if for no other reason than to appreciate all that has been given. As we develop a new budget and continue to focus on growth to serve more families, we lean into the trust that God’s grace is what ties it all together, between our families, our organization, and you. Thank you for showing up with full hearts in 2020. Happy New Year!