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In the not-too-far-away future, we will be into the New Year and thinking of our New Year’s Resolution. I have to admit that I haven’t really thought about it too much because I just love this time of year and I try to savor every moment and memories past and presently being made.
The music, the lights, the concerts, the family and gatherings, the Liturgical celebration. I can really just get caught up in it all, not wanting it all to end and intentionally put off thinking of a New Year’s resolution.
So, this morning I started thinking that January 1 is just 10 days away. Of course, thinking of a resolution for next year reminds me of the ones that I have tried to keep in the past.
Usually, my resolution is to grow in some aspect of my life, like deepen my Faith, health, or character. Classic resolutions have included being a better wife and mom, lose weight, start running again, growing in patience or kindness, or, perhaps, to step out of my comfort zone and really let God use me for his service.
I think all of these goals are good, but where have I really followed through? How have I truly changed and grown into the person I wish for?
I began thinking of this past couple of years and then it dawned on me. Maybe I am following through. Just maybe I have always accomplished my resolutions. Not in just a few weeks or maybe not even in a year like I would have hoped.
Taking a look at all of my resolutions or promises to God and myself, I have realized that even on a small scale, I have done these things. But, and here is the thing, I have done them not as yearly resolutions. I have tackled them moment by moment, hour by hour, and day by day, setback by setback, year by year.
New Year’s Resolutions are something we have all heard of. We have all been asked what our is for the year and we have all felt some kind of obligation to pick one and follow through for a least a few weeks anyway.
New Year’s Resolution – Refocus
But what if we looked at it as our New Life Resolution? I have not really ever changed enough in a year to really notice a difference. I guess I am a slow learner and truth be told when I think about it any measurable change has taken me many years to accomplish or even notice.
I have to learn lessons through situational circumstances. I have to live through things in order to learn and change through them. I have to experience pain, hurt and rejection to even have the desire to embrace the hope for change.
Like, for instance, patience. I was not born a patient person. And on some days (more than not) I am not very patient. But, I am definitely more patient then I was when I had my first child.
As each child came along, God drew me into the patience I would ‘now’ need. He did this through little moment happenings and experiences. I either needed to desire, hope and pray for patience or I would forever be a frustrated mom.
God doesn’t give you all you need just like that. He provides it moment by moment, interaction by interaction, situation by situation.
I have learned that I have received the patience I have, little by little, moment by moment. Through a life lived and experienced I have learned how to be patient when before I fell short.
Better Health
And what about my health? I dieted and worked out for years. I have lost and regained many times. But, here in my 40s, I have finally learned the way to accomplish it. I learned it little by little, moment by moment, pound by pound, goal by goal how to live healthier, maintain my weight loss and love how I am made. It has literally taken years!
Deeper Faith?
What about my Faith? Well, the same goes here. I became Catholic in 1998. It wasn’t an instant conversion. I learned through experiencing the beauty of the Mass, the Teachings, the Saints, books and the love of the community. Enough to deeply desire to explore more about the Catholic Church and become part of it.
But, it was learning and experiencing moment by moment, hour by hour and day by day the Truth, teachings, and Wisdom, that God slowly placed that hope and desire into my daily life.
Now my Catholic Faith has become part of me. But, like I said, it wasn’t instant. My love for the Church has been a resolution that I have kept because of the desire God placed in my heart moment by moment.
In all of these examples, when I really look at it, I realize that God himself called me to each of these resolutions. They were not mine. And when I tried to accomplish them on my own, I truly fell short and felt like a failure.
But, when I look back now, I realize every change, growth, and transformation was first an invitation from The Lord. An invitation to desire, to hope and to let it happen in the way, and in the time that God had planned for me. Not in the ‘year’ I had given myself.
All of these past resolutions are not finished. I am still hoping for, learning how, growing in and anticipating more changes to come. More resolutions does mean I will experience more hurt, disappointment, and frustration.
But, it also means I will undoubtedly experience the blessings of others, beauty, joy, peace, triumph and a better me.
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