New Year’s resolutions are made to be broken.
At least that’s the way it seems. Lots of folks, our self included, figure out things that can be done to improve their selves beginning January 1. Somebody researched it and claims over 88 percent of Americans make at least one resolution for the New Year.
Most common are: lose weight, have more money, quit smoking, see the family, maintain a budget, find improved job, eat correctly, get organized, exercise harder and be a better person. Being closer to the Lord our savior and especially thankful for all His blessings didn’t make the Top Ten, and they’re really the most important.
Our resolutions are to pray harder, especially expressing appreciation for all we have and seeking guidance in all we do. We too resolute not to eat so much, drink extra water, sleep less, make contact with friends, ride more horses, judge additional shows and write spare stories. Surveys show not even 20 percent are successful in keeping one resolution.
New Year’s Eve is for celebrating. We always went to the 11 o’clock movie. At midnight,
Auld Lang Syne played and everybody wearing party hats blew whistles, threw confetti and kissed their friend. Years later, we tried dances, although we can’t dance, and besides it’s past our bedtime. Now, we try to stay up at home, but not ‘til midnight.
On New Year’s Day, most just relax and recuperate. We watch television parades and always looked for Montie Montanaand Rex in the Tournament of Roses. Horses are still observed on the tube, even though our hero is gone. Traditional dinner calls for ham, with black-eyed peas, cabbage and donuts. That’s supposed to bring good luck for 365 days.
It is proper to take the scythe, whip the old year good-bye and look to the birth of a fresh beginning. Babies are symbols of the New Year and remind us of the nativity of Jesus Christ, our savior. May we not worry about resolutions, which some have considered paganism, but meditate on taking a walk with God?
Rebirth and living hope come in First Peter 1:3: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
Further proof we really don’t need to make resolutions comes in the promise found in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Likewise is the pledge in Second Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.”
+++ALLELUIA+++