Why I don't have any New Year's resolutions...

The last two weeks of the year are tricky for most of us.

First there's Christmas and all goodies that come with it; sugar, cookies, cakes (and did I mention more sugar). We gorge ourselves in celebration and then December 26th we vow that on January 1st we'll be better, do better, accomplish whatever it is that we put off, and try to lose the cookie weight we gained during our feasting. In a last-chance-hurrah we try to eat all the sugary substances still lurking in the cabinets because come New Years Day, that'll be history.

But then come work again, things get busy, and that weight you wanted to lose, that book you were meaning to write, that goal to get up extra early for quiet time--- that all goes to hell, excuse the expression.

Someone once said the "definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result." We set ourselves up year after year to do this same dance, and then feel all the more awful afterward. Resolutions are more like re-solutions, our way of trying with all our own mite to solve our own problems, but often our solutions to the problem are worse than the problem itself.

So this year I'm done.

I don't want to focus on my problems. I don't want to focus on striving for one more thing to add to my schedule.

This year my anti-resolution list has one thing on it: Love. I want to continue to fall immeasurably and hopelessly in love with God and others.

I want to run right into His arms and rest there, soaking up love and pouring back out.

I want to live in the moment, knowing every one of them is precious.

I want to dance without caring that I have two left feet just because I can, preferably in the rain!

I want to sit in total silence and hear the world around me.

I want to sit in front of sweet friends and soak up the uniqueness they each possess.

I want to become whatever it is that God wants me to be.

I want to lay down my will for His, because His always works out better than mine.

I don't want to strive one more second for things that aren't valuable because I don't need anything more than I need Him.

I want to put down my to do list and never (or at least not for a good long while) pick it back up.

I want to learn to give myself Grace, so that I can give it to others.

This year, more than anything, I want to put the first things first, knowing all second things will come together if I do.

Won't you join me?

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33