“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” — Zora Neale Hurston

How many of you know that a lot can happen in a year? I sure do because in a full calendar year, my life has changed in so many ways. Now I am not saying that all the change has been great but what I will say is that the joy that cometh in the morning is real.

If you grew up around church folks like me then I know you have heard people reciting the latter part of Psalms 30:5; Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning. For me, this doesn’t mean the literal morning as much as it does the moment the storm ceases, the clouds roll away and the sun shines again. It signifies that morning, when you are awakened to start anew.

2017 was a very interesting and trying year for me, it literally started with a bang. On January 2^nd our home was damaged by a tornado. This left my family virtually homeless and living in a hotel for nearly two months. Pairing that with all the medical issues I have had, and the cancer diagnoses made for a wild ride. So yeah, 2017 was one of those years that asked a hell of a lot of questions.

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Last night was my first night back home since the storm. No, the house isn't fixed and I still don't have any electricity but I realized I have the power… I decided to come home despite the situation because I needed peace and I wasn't getting it in that hotel room. I weathered the actual storm and I can get through this too. Since that night I have dreamed of that scary moment over and over with different endings but last night, I slept like a baby. Not one nightmare woke me and I haven't slept this late in years. #peace

A post shared by Maui Bigelow (@mauibigelow) on Jan 12, 2017 at 8:04am PST

Now, while I was committed to making the most of 2018, I must admit that the end of 2017 had me a little shook and unsure. However, that didn’t last long because God showed up and answered with favor.

On January 2, 2018 (exactly one year after the literal and figurative storm) my joy came in the form of one of my dreams becoming reality. The post that I published, “I have cancer, cancer doesn’t have me”, was republished by Ebony Magazine. LISTEN…

Now I know some of you are thinking, what is the big deal, its not like she work for Ebony. Well, the big deal is growing up a little girl in Iron City, Georgia, I didn’t see much potential for my future. However, I dreamed big! I wanted to be a teacher, I wanted to be an author and I wanted to write for Ebony and Essence. So, in my hearts eye… This was major!

For me, not only was this the aftermath and the joy of the morning, it was also proof that 2018 will definitely be a year that answers many questions for me.

What are you declaring 2018 will be for you?