One
year ago, my husband and I decided we would move our family from Iowa to
Colorado. I was two months pregnant with
our fifth child and overwhelmed with the events that marked the next 12 months as
regular as the inch markings on a ruler. On January 9, 2012, I wrote:
Not only am I a
whole week behind, I'm not even sure what word I would pick to give me the
direction I need for today, much less the whole year. The next few weeks
are intimidating enough without considering the eleven months that follow. But, thank God, I've got the Word.
My one resolution - if you could call it that - is the same passing
thought I've had at the beginning of the past several years, which goes to show
how good I am with resolutions. I need to know God's Word. I
need to be busier reading, meditating, memorizing, praying that Word each
day. Because if I know anything, I
know this: when the Word is my priority, the other things get put into
perspective, they fall into place.
Now here I am, 12 months later, 685 miles
away, and baby Eli playing next to me on the sofa. I turned 30 last month, we’ve just returned
from our first trip “back home,” and 2013 stretches out long in front of me.
“Do
you have a New Year’s resolution?” I ask
my husband this on our first night back here.
“Try
harder,” he responds.
“Try
harder?” I echo. “Try harder at what?”
“Try
harder at everything,” he says. “Do a
better job of explaining what I’m reading during family devotions. Play more with the kids. Plan better for school. Spend more time with you...”
It’s
the next morning that I read Ecclesiastes 9:10:
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is
no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, wither thou
goest.” That verse pretty well sums up
me right now. Wanting to try
harder. To do better. At many things. In many areas. As wife, mother, daughter, friend,
neighbor. And all with the sense of the
rapid passing of time and my own mortality looming over me.
2013. So far the only event marked on the ruler is
my sister’s wedding in June, six inches in.
My resolution for this year is the same as last’s, with one word added:
I want to better live God’s
Word. I’ve written down specific goals
for myself, because I hope to measure this year by my progress in living rather
than the events in my life. I’ve written
down those goals knowing that only if the Lord wills, I will live and do this,
or that. (James 4:15)
And in those
moments when I can see only the eighth of an inch in front of me? Then I’ll turn to Ecclesiastes 9:10. And to Colossians 3:23-24: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and
not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the
inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
And I’ll pray for the grace to do just what I
am doing with all of my might.
No comments:
Post a Comment