New Years Resolutions

When I was in first grade, we had an assignment to write a New Years resolution. Being a young, aspiring writer, my resolution was to write one story every day for the entire year. I think I wrote about two before I decided my resolution was a bit too much of an undertaking. My resolution remained a resolution and never became a realization.

My feelings about New Years resolutions have fluctuated over the years. When I was a young girl, I was excited to give myself an incentive to do something I loved to do anyway. However, I quickly realized that the joy of writing was diminished when I felt forced to do it every single day. I also felt disappointed in myself when I didn’t reach my goal each day, which further discouraged me from attempting to try the next day.

As I grew older, and especially after giving my life to Christ, I felt like there wasn’t much point to New Years resolutions. After all, if there was something I should or shouldn’t be doing, why should I wait to make a resolution about it? There is a quote by Henry Moore that says “I think in terms of the day’s resolutions, not the year’s.” My attitude towards resolutions over the past several years could be summed up by that quote. I wanted to give my best to God daily, not yearly.

Now, as I grow even older, I find myself rethinking my attitude towards New Years resolutions once again. Time is passing more and more quickly, and things I love to do are going undone. I still love writing, and while it’s great being forced to write weekly blogs, my personal writing goals are not being met. I want to learn to play piano, but my keyboard in the corner collects dust more often than not. I want to show my husband love through writing regular notes to him, like we did in college, but I find myself too busy to do more than think about how nice it would be to do that again.

This year I’ve decided to make another New Years resolution – the first in many years. It will be about writing again. Unlike my first-grade resolution, I’m not going to attempt to write every day. But I will make a resolution to write in my journal once a week for the next year. Keeping in line with yesterday’s post, I know that a written record of seemingly mundane weekly events will be a great resource as I look back over the year and remember all that God has done in my life.

And maybe on days when I’m feeling really ambitious, I’ll spend some time at the piano, then write my husband a love letter.

How do you feel about New Years resolutions? If you make them, do you usually keep them? What is your resolution  for 2010?

Remembering 2009

Last night, my husband and I had a minor argument. We were playing Scrabble, and I beat him two rounds in a row. “I’m suprised you beat me,” he said after we were finished. “Last time we played, I beat you by a pretty big margin.”

“When have we ever played Scrabble?” I asked. “I don’t remember that at all.”

His mood immediately soured. “You don’t remember? I planned a special date for you. You were complaining that we always did the same stuff on dates, so I asked a girl at work to give me some fun date ideas. She suggested playing Scrabble and making popcorn, so I brought it over. I thought it was really special. I can’t believe you don’t remember!”

I tried to appease him, but the fact remained. He was hurt that I didn’t remember his special effort to please me.

I am notorious for my poor memory. I keep a daily planner and have done so for years so that I can have a physical record to remind me of things I’ve done and things I have to do. There have been times when friends have asked me “How have you been lately?” and I have opened up my planner, scanned the last several weeks, and reminded myself of what I’ve done and how I’ve felt. I have the type of personality that focuses on the present and the future and often glosses over or forgets entirely past events.

This is why I love having past journal entries and written documents to look over. It’s important to remind myself of past events, so they don’t escape my mind altogether in a few weeks, months, or years.

While it’s important for me to remind myself of the past so I can honor my husband and other loved ones, it’s also important to remember the past so I build my faith in what God can do in my present and future.

Psalm 77 says:

I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered you, O God, and I groaned; I mused, and my spirit grew faint. Selah You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak. I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; I remembered my songs in the night. My heart mused and my spirit inquired: “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” Selah Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God?

You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. The clouds poured down water, the skies resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

The psalmist writes about using his memories of the Lord’s past deeds to encourage himself that God will come through in his present difficult circumstances. It’s important to keep a record of the past so that we can look back on all the Lord has done and take heart that God has not abandoned us, even when we feel like He has.

Take a moment to look over these question prompts and record the answers on your computer or in a journal. If you feel comfortable, share some or all of the answers in a comment so you can encourage others.

How did God reveal His hand and presence in 2009?

What was your happiest moment?

What was your most defeated moment?

What do you wish you had done more of?

What do you wish you had done less of?

What was the greatest book you read?

What was the most meaningful film you watched?

What song reminds you of 2009?

Who was the most influential person you met?

What did you do in 2009 that you had never done before?

What were you most afraid of?

What were you most grateful for?