Resolutions

New Year’s resolutions. The jury is still out on whether they are a good thing or not. I am still thinking about them for 2009. As I read the blogs of others they have such specific, lofty resolutions and all I can think is - I wouldn’t have a chance!

Seriously, I can’t even keep a daily resolution let alone one for the entire year ahead!

Today I will not eat chocolate… who was I kidding?

Today I will sit through a televised sporting event with my husband… does it count if I fell asleep halfway through?

Today I will finish one more page in my son’s scrapbook… well, I'm almost done!

Don’t get me wrong, I do set goals for myself. I do try to improve myself, to improve the world around me. I guess I just prefer to do it in a more general way.

One New Year’s Eve a couple of years ago, shortly before the clock struck midnight, I read the following Scripture passage as I opened my Bible: “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. …Then the God of peace will be with you.” Phil 4: 8-9.

There it was. Those were the words I would try to live by as the new year started. As one year has passed into the next, I find myself coming back to these words. To look at the good things in life not only brings peace, but gratitude. And gratitude brings humility. And humility brings service. And service is love.

So, my dear friends, as the new year begins, I encourage you to simply smile, forgive, believe, thank, and love each and every day. Happy New Year!