I am finding that the years come and go much faster than they used to. Growing up, I was often the youngest. I started school when I was just 4.5 years of age so was usually the youngest in my class. I was engaged shortly before my 22nd birthday and married four months later, much earlier in life than I had thought. DH and I were the first of our circle to begin our family and I found myself with four children before I turned 30. I now realize that, not only does time fly, but time is, indeed, the great equalizer.
You and I have the same months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, and seconds before us in this new year of 2010. I have been contemplating, but not "resolving", to spend this year well. What does that look like? What changes need to be made? What relationships need more/less time and priority? How will our family be enriched/endure suffering in this year before us?
I am confident in the Sovereign God who holds all these things in His hand and in the reality that He has a plan for me in 2010. I've ramped up my Scripture reading over the past couple of weeks and hope to read through the Bible by the summer. I determine to spend time seeking Him, in prayer, in worship, in His word. I pray that I will be obedient to what He asks of me and quick to repent when I fall short of the mark.
You see, 2009 was less than stellar. It was a plodding through kind of year with twists and turns that I had not anticipated in any way, shape, or form. It held moments of significant pain as well as moments of recognizing the Giver. My marriage is stronger than ever. My children continue to amaze and challenge me. True friends showed their faces as I walked through some dark times. I saw weaknesses in my life that I hadn't seen before, at least not as clearly as I do now.
Lord, help me to to recognize the difference between the urgent and the truly important in this year ahead.
Blessings on you as you start a new year with purpose, determination, and a teachable heart.
