I really do love new things! They don't have to be expensive or exotic. They don't have to be big and beautiful. They don't even need to be desirable and decadent. Really...all they have to be is "new" to me. I can receive a small bouquet of flowers from one of my husband's funeral services he has preformed, where the family has graciously suggested he take one. Don't judge him (or me); we have saved those flowers from certain premature death! They would just end up in the most unforgiving and unappreciative funeral home trash bin. How sad would that be; God's beautiful creation gone before their time!
Someone could give me the gift of a cup of coffee, or share a piece of chocolate with me and I would be excited at their thoughtfulness. I can get a new pen or sticky note pad, all the while eagerly anticipating their first use! I am not really as sophisticated as some may think I am. It is true that I do enjoy nice clothes, shoes, purses, accessories of any kind! However, a small gesture of "newness" goes a long way with me. Just the anticipation of a gift, a treat, a card can cause great excitement for me. Don't even get me started on NEW YARN...
Perhaps that is why I enjoy the approach of my birthday and proclaim a "month long" celebration...it is another year of life to be celebrated. Another chance to thank God for what He has brought me through, taught me and allowed me to experience. I can't begrudge the onslaught of years, as they come to the best of us! I am thankful to be another year older, another year closer to having a son-in-law & daughter-in-law, another year closer to grand-children, to retirement, and on the list could go.
I also always look forward to the New Year for the same reasons I anticipate my birthday. However, I must take it a step further. The New Year brings with it the anticipation of a "do-over", another chance to get it right, or "MORE" right. The excitement of a new calender year filled with opportunity and excitement or perhaps just the every-day responsibilities of life, love and faith. I can start again to lose weight, exercise more, eat healthier for the 40th year in a row; a chance to "REALLY" do it this time. ;-)
You see the New Year brings me hope. I have a chance to do things better, to work on important relationships more gently and diligently. 2012 is another opportunity to live out my faith more radically and influentially. This year opens the inner door of my soul, so that I can stoke the fire of my faith just a bit more consistently. The hope in the "newness" of the year brings to mind the Scripture in 2 Corinthians 5: (click on this Link to read the entire Chapter) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2 Corinthians+5&version=MSG
2 Corinthians 5: 14-19 (The Message) says; "Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own. Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life begins! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins."
"A fresh start'... that's what I am talking about! That is what another new year of life brings on each of our birthdays. A fresh start is what the New Year rings in once that ball falls and the clock reaches Midnight. As the scripture says; "the old life is gone; a new life begins!!" How exciting is that?!?! In Christ we get a "do-over". There are not that many times in life we get true "do-overs". Some choices, decisions, words that are said in anger or bitterness can never be "re-done" or taken back. However, we get a chance to seek a "fresh start" in Christ as this New Year begins. We have a chance to forgive and be forgiven; an opportunity to get it right or make it right, a chance to to really seek, surrender and serve Christ with ALL that we are.
That's why I love "new". Just the word itself is fun for me ( I know I am crazy)! So I say with excitment; Happy NEW Year, Happy NEW You!
Enjoy the journey,
Laura
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