Bitter wine. Bitter lessons.

The wine is dry and bitter tonight.
Not my preference.
But tonight dry and bitter is fitting.

2016. The year of humility.
Learning to lower myself and stripping my pride.
2016. The year of becoming stronger.
Learning to stretch and strengthen spiritually, mentally, physically.
2016. The year of letting go.
Learning to lean completely on God and none other.
2016. What a beautiful one you are.
But these lessons are not like sweet white wine.
These lessons taste dry and bitter.
And I love them.
I need them.
Over and over again.
Until the lessons are learned.
Until I am humble, strong, and dependent on God alone.
Day by day, God, you gently teach me...again.
I did not grasp the lesson yesterday.
And so today we start again.
And I see you.
I feel you.
I know you love me.
Enough.
Enough to cover for all I put in your place.
And it's all stripping away.
Yet it's not all gone.
The grasping, the pride, the weakness.
So tomorrow I will learn again.
Until I get it.
Until no one but you stands on my altar.
Until no pride remains.
Until I rest in the shadow of your wings.
Until I find refuge in you alone.
YOU are my rock.
YOU alone.
YOU.