Here we are, four days into the New Year and yet this is the first you’ve heard from me. I just know you missed me! :) Here I was, so excited for a fresh new set of 12 months, and now find myself all dumbstruck. Perhaps its writers block or maybe just being free from the weariness and heaviness of the past 12 months that forever have left their mark on not only my life, but those in my life too, has left me a bit speechless. In my perfectionism I was feeling this pressure of needing to write something profound for the first post of 2012. However, I had an epiphany on my run this evening (I told you, running is good for the mind too). I am neither brilliant nor profound, I’m just me - plain, simple, weird little me. Why then should my silly musings be anything other than what they always have been, just a slice of who I am and what goes on in my head (you might want to shiver at this point, it could get scary).
Owing to my excitement over crossing that midnight threshold into this new year, I’ve been mulling over a quote from my favorite author, C.S. Lewis. “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” Thinking about all my hopes, dreams, and wishes for what this new year might bring in my world, I know that obviously I have little control over my surroundings, but I do have control over my own self and my thoughts and actions. So, I’ll just do what I can, set my goals and hope for those dreams, and trust that God will shore up my inevitable short-comings and honor my heart being in the right place.
If you have known me for any length of time you know that my all time favorite Disney princess is Cinderella. Even I, at the age of 32, had to have my picture taken with her when we went to Disneyworld – and I’ll do it again the next time I’m there too! There was always something so hopeful to me about her story. Little orphaned cinder girl becomes a Princess thing, maybe. What I love about the story is that even in the midst of serving her nasty step family, she never copped an ugly attitude, and she never stopped dreaming that one day her life would be all she wanted and hoped for. My parents somehow instilled in me the same spirit. Dream big, work hard, keep the right attitude, and let God take care of the rest. I pray that I will pass that same thing to my girls.
Sure, things happen you never planned, but this is life and unfortunately we live in a fallen imperfect world. What I have come to understand is that when things happen and dreams die, God is loving and gracious enough to give us new dreams and desires if we let Him. The trick is, in our humanness, most of the time we think ourselves unworthy of His favor, and honestly, we are. But He doesn’t give it because we deserve it, but because He loves us. Know that God wants desperately to shower his favor upon your life - no wait, not shower, He wants to SOAK you in his favor. My challenge to you this year is to realize that yeah, you don’t deserve it but he loves you so get over yourself and LET Him bless you beyond your comfort zone. Who cares what everyone else thinks! Trust me, when you let go of your pride and allow yourself to live in His blessings, you will be far too happy and blessed to care what all those “religious” types think. They’re just jealous anyway. Besides, who are you to refuse His blessings? I bet your kids wouldn’t turn down all the good stuff you could give them, so why would you do that to your heavenly father who is a more perfect giver than we ever thought of being.
I have some very serious and perhaps some quite silly hopes for this new year, but they are all still desires of my heart and I know without a doubt that my Father cares about each and every one of them. So, I will try my best “to be still and know” that He is God and I will watch as he pours out His favor upon my life and those around me. I pray that you will do the same. Dream new dreams, BIG dreams, and watch Him do great things in your life. He wants to, I promise!
1 comment:
Amen sister!
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