Dear Maven,
On New Year’s Eve you asked me, “Do you have any resolutions?” Immediately, I thought of another Sunday morning years ago when we compiled a list of personal and family goals. (I have absolutely no idea where that list is today, by the way. I just know I still have a few pounds to drop.)
Maven, your question was a hard one because I don’t have any formal resolutions for 2017. Do I want to exercise more, lose weight? Sure. Write more regularly, find a publisher? Absolutely. Hold my temper, fuss less, stop yelling? Darn skippy. Show more compassion, give more, love wholeheartedly, stop and smell the roses before I forget to water them? Working on those even now. But can I resolve to do those things, keep all those promises to myself? The Ghost of Christmas Past tells me, “Been there, broken that.”
“So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
You see making resolutions the way I used to: as an interesting way to cast a grander vision or redirect and improve your life. But fun killer that I am today, I view it through different lenses.
Today, New Year’s resolutions announce, “I’m not happy with the way my life has worked out. I’m frustrated with how I look/feel, with what I do/am. I see failure behind me, but a few tweaks can lead to future success. God, can you do better?” But I’m not in charge of growing one hair on your head or mine, no matter how much Nature’s Blessing or Aveda I use. And goal setting might work if I planned to run a marathon at some point in the future; I’d need to work up to running 26.2 miles by first knowing how to run two, then five, ten, and so on. I don’t see that type of long-distance racing in my future, however. (No, really, I don’t want to evereverever run a marathon. I’ll leave that to you.) My race is life; my finish line is heaven; my medal reads, “Well done”; and it won’t matter if I get there before my neighbor or dressed in a size 6 track suit.
I’ve stopped counting unhatched chickens.
Sure, Maven, goals are wonderful. But before I set them I need to seek God’s kingdom; the rest will fall into place. (Matthew 6:33) I often look at my unfinished to-do lists and my famous teacher planning book and hear “Failure!” as I review all I didn’t get accomplished, all that remains to be done, all the erasures of this assignment or rescheduling of that due date. And oh, when I take my virtual scope to gaze back at 2016…so many valleys.
Yet, God orders each moment of each day, let alone an entire year. And when I focus on those valleys, I see the grappling hooks, the outcroppings, the crevices, the tiny handholds, and the watering holes—all the help almighty God provided to allow me to rest, to pull me out, and to set me on high places so my feet could be as hinds’ feet, so I could lap up the water and pant only for Him. (Psalms 18:33, 42:1, 2) From the mountaintop of 2017 I can look back and see how I got over. Now, would I have planned any of those trials at the beginning of the year? No way. Would loss, death, illness, or sorrow have been my goal? Not a chance. The other day Lone Ranger told me, “Mommy, I have a surprise I want to show you. Close your eyes and take my hand.” I did (yes, with a small amount of fear and trembling), trusting her to lead me where she wanted, knowing I might get bruised and bumped by something along the way. So it is with our God: I must take His hand since He knows where to lead me and the awesome surprise awaiting me once I get there.
“…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” Philippians 1:6
So, will I make plans, Maven? Of course, but I’ll plan the way Daddy and I travel with you little people. We set a date and pray it works out. When the day arrives, we pack the car and we don’t announce what time we’ll get there, only what time we left or how far we’ve traveled. You’ve heard us grumble about pit stops and fuss about traffic, but we all know they’re a natural part of the trip. We all cheer once we finally arrive—sometimes earlier than expected, sometimes later—and try not to look back on the unnecessary delays and tears and bickering.
My life plans…I can only offer them to God in my open palm. He can cover them with His hand to hold them in place or replace them with His own. I’ll try not to wring my hands over what I haven’t done or accomplished and instead, lift them in praise and gratitude over what He’s allowed me to finish…or start…or merely dream of. And as far as New Year’s resolutions go, Maven, I’m focusing on promises I don’t have to make or keep. I can’t break them because He already fulfilled them. They are the Word I cling to that doesn’t change, fail, or disappoint, and even if I let go, His Word holds on to me and you. Here are a few you can write down:
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
“Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.” Proverbs 16:3
“Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Revelation 1:3
Love, Mommy
