Well, this is it! 2011 will officially become the past in a matter of hours. For many of us, myself included, it will be a time to reflect and renew. Out with the old and in with the new. For each person, 2011 has it's own set of memories, some great and others awful. No matter what has happened, if you are reading this post, it means you survived and made it through. Our experiences become the sum of our lives. Those experiences are our best teachers of how to move forward and continue processing this thing called LIFE. It is important to let those things go and remain a small part of our life journey. Each day holds its own set of drama and experiences. Holding on to past hurts and regrets will make you depressed and bring you down. Nobody likes dealing with Debbie Downer all the time.
As we usher in 2012, many of us will make resolutions and promises. Some will be kept and others will be long forgotten before the 31st day of January. We all have an idea of what we think defines perfection in our lives. God knows better than we do, and often times, He has a totally different plan set for us. Whatever the path, be it easy to navigate or in need of a lot of direction, He remains in control. We simply need to stay in His will and walk the walk and talk the talk with dignity and grace. We need to remain true to our own values and not be defined by the needs and desire of others. Whatever the case, our eyes should be focused on the future. The past is just that, something that happened. We can't change it. It is old news and old stuff. Life is a journey, we go forward. Sometimes, we really do have to press ahead. That means no it won't be easy, but the motion is forward.
Life is too short to sweat the small stuff. God told us to let each day handle its own set of issues. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34 NASB) Sometimes we simply need to take the focus off of ourselves and focus on others. The world will never suffer from us being kind to a stranger. A smile can make a huge difference in some one's life. Listening is also important. Sometimes, it is a matter of us just slowing down long enough to meet a basic need for someone else. When all else fails, prayer works. God never answers in our prescribed method but He will move in a situation. Sometimes His lack of action is our answer. Prayers work not just for us but for others. We have to intercede and seek God's will for others, God isn't looking for us to pray about our personal concerns all the time, in fact prayers for self should be the end of our requests, not the beginning.
Wherever you are and whatever you do to ring in the New Year, I hope you will do it safely. If you are drinking, please don't drive. Friends really don't let friends drive drunk. Whatever hurts, anger, and bitterness you are harboring, let it go. You will feel so much better and your health will improve. I say it all the time, on our worst day, we are more blessed than so many others in the world. If you are having a pity party, I challenge to to count your blessings, name them one by one. Once you do this, you will be quickly reminded that though your past has been challenging, your future is still bright with promise. Every day you can choose to be positive, you can choose joy, and you can choose to look beyond yourself.
May 2012 be your best year yet! May God bless and keep you! May your successes be many! May there peace and prosperity in your future! May there be much love, joy, and laughter in the year to come. Happy New Year to each and every one!!!
Pam
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment