But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.”

I Samuel 17: 34-36 NKJV

We began this month by enumerating the need to objectively evaluate our 2024, focusing on the positives, developing an attitude of gratitude for all the good things that have happened to us and for us this year. We also talked about the importance of appreciating people that have made us smile instead of focusing on those that have made us mad.

If you must enter 2025 with renewed strength, confidence, positive mental attitude, faith in God and in yourself, the one person whose relevance, contribution, importance, faith, strength, doggedness, resilience, endurance and discipline you must pause to evaluate, acknowledge and celebrate is you. Yes, YOU. Take a look at you, your contribution to other people’s lives, your community, church, neighborhood, etc. has been significant. You are special, your existence has been meaningful. You’ve added value to others. 2024 has been made better in the lives of others by your existence, you have added smiles to the lives of others.

Celebrate yourself, the exams you passed, the project your contribution made possible, the sacrifices you made in the lives of others and tell yourself “thank you!” You lived and you made 2024 great. Forget about the things you’re yet to achieve, the mistakes you made. Look at something good you have done this year, those little things that brought a smile to someone’s face and joy to their heart. Look at yourself in the mirror, call your name and tell yourself how wonderful, special, relevant, and a blessing you are and say “thank you for making 2024 great, let’s do it again in 2025.”