Part 5 - Creative Conclusions
"I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds." - Psalm 77:11-12
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." - Psalm 107:1
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" - Isaiah 43:18-19
Insight
Every year is a story, and yours is coming to a close. Not with an abrupt ending or a frantic sprint to the finish line, but with the gentle turning of a page. It's time to honor the story that was—the chapters of joy and sorrow, growth and struggle, breakthrough and breakdown that have brought you to this moment.
Think of yourself as both the protagonist of this year's story and now, in these final days, its gentle editor. You're not rewriting what happened or wishing it had unfolded differently. You're simply reading through the pages with compassionate eyes, noticing themes you might have missed while you were living it, celebrating character development that happened gradually, and acknowledging plot twists that didn't make sense in the moment but now reveal their purpose.
Every good story has conflict, and yours was no exception. There were villains in your story this year—maybe external circumstances, maybe internal struggles, maybe relationships that caused pain. But looking back now, can you see how even those antagonistic forces played a role in your growth? How they revealed strength you didn't know you had, or pushed you toward help you might not have sought otherwise?
Your story also had supporting characters who showed up at just the right moments. Some played starring roles throughout the year—family members, close friends, mentors who walked beside you through thick and thin. Others had smaller but crucial parts—the stranger who offered encouragement when you needed it most, the coworker who stepped up during a difficult project, the child whose laughter reminded you not to take yourself so seriously.
And then there were the unexpected plot developments that surprised even you. The opportunity that arose out of nowhere. The relationship that deepened in ways you hadn't anticipated. The dream that took shape when you weren't looking. The healing that came after you'd given up hope. The provision that showed up just in time. These weren't coincidences—they were evidence of an Author who was writing a larger story than you could see from your limited perspective.
As you prepare to close this year's book, consider creating a tangible way to honor the story that was. Write a letter to yourself from the beginning of the year, acknowledging how much you've grown and changed. Create a photo collage that captures the highlights, both big and small. Make a playlist of songs that soundtrack your year's journey. Write a poem or prayer of gratitude for the ways God showed up, even in the difficult chapters.
Some people like to create a "jar of awesome" where they write down good moments throughout the year and read them all at year's end. Others prefer to identify a single word or phrase that captures the theme of their year. Some find meaning in rituals of release—writing down regrets or disappointments and burning them, or burying stones that represent burdens they're choosing to leave behind.
Whatever creative expression feels right for you, the goal is the same: to consciously conclude this chapter of your life with gratitude, grace, and recognition of God's faithfulness throughout every season. You're not just surviving another year—you're completing another chapter in the ongoing story of how God is transforming you into the person He created you to be.
This isn't about putting a pretty bow on a messy year or pretending everything was perfect. It's about recognizing that even the difficult chapters contribute to the beauty of your overall story. It's about celebrating growth that happened in ways you didn't expect, through circumstances you wouldn't have chosen, at a pace that felt too slow or too fast but was exactly right.
Journaling Questions
If your year was a book, what would you title it, and what would be the main themes that run throughout its chapters?
Who were the key "supporting characters" in your story this year, and how did they contribute to your growth or joy?
What plot twists or unexpected developments can you now see were actually gifts in disguise or divine redirections?
How would you creatively honor and conclude this year's story in a way that feels meaningful to you?
What evidence of God's authorship can you recognize in your year's story that you might not have noticed while you were living it?
Creative Conclusion Ideas
Write a Year-End Letter: Pen a letter from your December self to your January self, acknowledging the journey, celebrating the growth, and offering encouragement for what you couldn't see coming.
Create a Gratitude Gallery: Gather photos, ticket stubs, notes, or small mementos that represent meaningful moments from your year. Arrange them in a frame or scrapbook page titled "Evidence of God's Goodness."
Compose Your Year's Soundtrack: Create a playlist of songs that tell the story of your year—songs that carried you through hard times, celebrated good times, or that simply became the backdrop to important moments.
Plant Something: As a symbol of the growth that happened this year and hope for what's to come, plant a seed, bulb, or small tree. Let it represent the ways God has been cultivating something beautiful in your life.
Create a Time Capsule: Write letters to your future self, include photos from this year, and add small items that represent who you are right now. Open it in a few years to see how the story continues to unfold.