A Blessing for the End of the Year

By Kimberly Knowle-Zeller

Grab your coffee and find a seat among the crumbs
step over Lego creations, boots, scarves and coats
push the stuffies and books aside to make room on the couch
come and sit and remember.

Remember the firsts from this year—
the lost tooth and that gap-toothed grin of your youngest
the smiling pictures on the first day of school
and the broody teenagers with their arms crossed waiting for the picture to be over
the first words—mama, dada, bubba
first foods—messy faces covered in mashed banana and avocado
the driving lessons with clenched fists
the joy of a first goal, basket, and touchdown.

Remember the sleepless nights—
hours rocking your baby and pacing the halls
the prayers echoed in the dark under a moonlit sky
nursing till both you and your baby’s eyes closed
researching symptoms and programs and school options
worrying about family and friends.

Remember the hours in the car—
overhearing secrets and gossip of who likes who
audio books and podcasts
and singing at the top of your lungs with the windows down.

Remember the moments of connection—
making wooden block creations, Magna-Tiles cities
dressing up for tea parties
after dinner dancing and hours reading books.

Remember gathering at the table for meals—
spaghetti-covered faces and syrup-sticky hands
sharing highs and lows from the day
expanding the table for neighbors
breaking bread and passing the plate of brownies
leaving leftovers for the kids at practice and the parents who work late.

Remember the friends and playgroups—
trying to have a conversation between cries and requests for drinks and snacks
the friends who text: you’re not alone
and who know your coffee order without asking
the text threads that last for days about rashes and “Why won’t my kid eat anything other than mac and cheese,” “You too?” and “I’m glad we’re not the only ones.”

What do you see?
What do you hear?
What do you feel?

Remember this year —
you lived and loved
laughed and cried
hoped and prayed.

This year and this world
are better because of your love.

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Blessing written by Exhale Community Manager

Kimberly Knowle - Zeller

. Kimberly is a writer, pastor, wife, mother of two, and the co-author of The Beauty of Motherhood: Grace-Filled Devotions for the Early Years. She lives with her family in Cole Camp, Missouri. When she’s not at the park with her children, walking around town, or tending to the garden, you can find her with a pen and paper. Or a good book and a cup of coffee. She believes in the power of words, unearthing the extraordinary in the ordinary, and encouraging others to follow their passions. Connect with her on Instagram or Substack.

Photo by

Jennifer Floyd

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p.s. Exhale opens for enrollment January 1! Join the waitlist here.

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