Lena's Life Balance

In 2024, I told myself that we, as a family, needed to be more dedicated to going to church and truly listening to the Sunday message. I can honestly say that we did listen- whether it was in church, on the radio, or watching from our couch.

During that time, I felt a lot of internal growth within myself. I was navigating difficult hardships with a specific family member, and listening to the weekly message helped me grow in ways I didn’t even realize I needed. I learned how to protect my heart and not allow people to hurt me the way they once had. I’m not proud of some of the grudges I held onto- but we are imperfect people, right?

Fast forward to 2025. I told myself I wanted church to be more than something we casually checked off the list. I didn’t want to say, “Oh yay, we made it,” and then let the rest of the day take over my thoughts. I wanted it to be a true priority.

I can proudly say that church did become a priority for our family. My son joined the junior high ministries Bible study group on Wednesday nights, and my husband and I made a commitment to show up. Even if we went out on a Saturday night, we made it a point to get up and be ready for our 9:45 a.m. service. Each Sunday message became something I took to heart- something I actively worked to apply to my life and fix what needed fixing.

One thing I’ve learned along the way is this: when you carry hurt, anger, or resentment, your kids see it too. And often, they carry those same emotions into their adult lives.

I titled this article Too Cliché for a New Year, New Me? because as we begin 2026, I don’t believe we need a completely brand-new version of ourselves or massive life changes. Sometimes, it’s about making small updates and recognizing what we’ve already accomplished over time.

I went from wanting to go to church, to wanting to apply the message to my life, to now actively using the tools I’ve been given as I step into 2026. Small changes matter. Growth happens in the details.

God made us imperfect so we could always refine, heal, and grow- learning from the things that once took up so much space in our minds and hearts.

So, here’s to small changes for the win in 2026.
Life is about balance, right?