Each January, I take time to reflect on the passing year and set intentions for the one ahead. My tradition typically includes choosing a word to define the year, accompanied by a symbol—a Bible verse, a song, an animal, or something that brings the word to life.

But this year was different.

Life, as it sometimes does, had other plans. My reflection time was unexpectedly cut short, leaving me with only a single, vivid image—a lighthouse. I bypassed the usual foundational steps and leapt straight into the vision.

The Lighthouse as My Symbol

I grew up just a mile or two from the Kilauea Lighthouse on Kauai, a striking landmark perched on the northern cliffs of the island. Though I undoubtedly took educational trips there as a child, it’s only now that I truly appreciate the impression it left on me—somewhere deep within my soul.

So this year, I embrace the lighthouse as my guiding symbol—representing strength for today, hope for tomorrow, and appreciation for the past that built my foundation.

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Strength: Standing Firm in Purpose

Lighthouses are built to withstand the relentless forces of nature—unshaken, unwavering, and steadfast. Year after year, they remain rooted in their purpose, offering stability and security to those who need guidance.

I want to embody that kind of strength—a source of reliability and assurance for those around me. A place where people feel safe, renewed, and empowered. Imagine being the lighthouse:

• Lighting the way for others.
• Guiding the lost through uncertainty.
• Standing strong despite the storm.

The structure of a lighthouse is a strong tower, and I want my character, my actions, and my purpose to reflect that same resilience.

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Hope: A Light in the Darkness

While I believe in living fully present in each day, hope remains an anchor in my life. It fuels my devotion, determination, and joy. Life is a continuous balance of forces, and hope keeps me moving forward with purpose—not as wishful thinking, but as a firm trust in God’s promises.

A lighthouse is a beacon of hope—a reminder that even in the darkest moments, the light will always lead us forward.

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”

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Appreciation: Embracing the Journey

I imagine the relief and gratitude a sailor must feel when spotting the light of a lighthouse—a fixed point of direction amid uncertainty.

Similarly, I choose to look back on my life through a lens of appreciation. Through seasons of hardship and joy, abundance and need, I don’t dwell on what I wish had been different. Instead, I acknowledge how each experience has shaped me, molding my character and resilience.

A lighthouse doesn’t just serve one moment in time—it continues to stand and guide through all seasons, all storms, all journeys. And in the same way, I appreciate how every moment—good and bad—has built me into who I am today.

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Gratitude as My Lighthouse

As I reflect on the lighthouses I have admired throughout my life, I realize that gratitude itself has become my lighthouse—a guiding light in my daily life.

Gratitude is:
🌊 A transformative strength, rooted in goodness and hope.
🌊 A mindset that reshapes battles, allowing me to overcome obstacles.
🌊 A filter that clears out negativity, leaving no space for fear, doubt, or discontentment.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
—Philippians 4:8

Gratitude keeps my heart and mind focused on what is good, uplifting, and worthy of appreciation. It provides perspective, resilience, and joy.

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The Gifts of Gratitude

When gratitude becomes your lighthouse, it transforms your perspective:

✔️ It secures you to a purposeful foundation.
✔️ It shapes a fruitful and productive path forward.
✔️ It humbles you, reminding you to serve others.
✔️ It tethers you to a life of integrity and generosity.
✔️ It fosters wisdom, discernment, and truth.
✔️ It strengthens courage and shields against negativity.
✔️ It inspires love, joy, and appreciation for the present.
✔️ It holds you to a standard of excellence.
✔️ It encourages you to rejoice in others’ successes.
✔️ It fixes your sights on what is commendable, praiseworthy, and uplifting.

With a heart full of gratitude, I step into 2025 with readiness, expectation, and joy.

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A Personal Note

My late mother, Judy Jennifer, had a deep fondness for lighthouses. Though I’ll never fully know why, it seems that she passed that love on to me.

And this year, I choose to embrace it.

A lighthouse is a symbol of unwavering strength, enduring hope, and deep appreciation—all things I want to embody, reflect, and carry forward.

So, as I navigate this new year, I choose gratitude as my guiding light.

Because gratitude changes everything.

Here’s to 2025—may it be filled with light, strength, and purpose.