Let’s Toast To Peace and Victory

2016 was a long year that required much determination.  Honestly, it was the heaviest year of my life. Wholeheartedly, it was my first time being present and facing my fears.  In honor of an amazing 2017, here is a Free-verse poem reflection.

​January through May,
my brain had the power of a scholar.
Non-stop school work, essays, and thoughts of college.
May twentyfirst.  Graduation Day!
I’d made it!  I was free.
June through August, my focus had changed.
Acting, Scripts, and California placed me on my first plane.
The Celebrity Experience, a competition?
No, a chance for amazing talent to enter fame.
Surrounded by people who shared my dream, I met worthy Kings and Queens.
We all stayed connected, knitted with support.
Yet even still, in my mind, I felt rejected.  
But that wasn’t my heart.  I wasn’t created to give up after one “No.”
Besides, I had conquered my two biggest fears right before turning eighteen.  
I was facing adulthood in one day.  I’m not going to lie.  
I was afraid.
September through December, I shattered like glass,
But God reconstructed me, this time steadfast.  
Now, in college and living away from home, I have responsibilities.
My grades were great, and priorities straight,
But there was no balance.
I felt so alone.
I distanced myself from the awesome people I’d met, and stayed in my dorm.
Trapped in my head,
I lost hours of sleep to awful nightmares.
Stressed of myself, I looked at the world around me:
The election, continued oppression, death.
I was scared.
I fell to my knees, in my roommate's kindness and care.
Towards November’s end, I reached out to a friend.  Her arms were open, like always.
Her faith strong in God, our souls held hands.
One morning in a Chick-Fil-A, I told her my pains,
And she prayed.
“Write to God.” She offered with total sincerity and unconditional love.
So I did.
It hurt,
Confessing to Him my sins.
But He listened, He cared, and He forgave.
Like a child’s story, one stormy night,
I felt God’s presence.  His love holding me tight.
Overwhelmed by this new experience, I cried and cried,
Realizing that this was why Christ died.
So we could feel this beautiful love firsthand.
For weeks, I couldn’t put it into words, nor did I know who to tell.
As the holidays drew near, I went home to my family.
Wrapped in their arms, God kept his promise strong.
Now, in the last days of 2016, I’ve reflected
On how my trust thinned out to almost nothing.
But I never gave up.
To kick off the new year early,
I want to declare peace and victory.

Sending out Positive Vibes, I want to wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year.  Great things are before you.  Spread love and positivity into 2017.


Kaci Hollingsworth

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