Like many of you, I used to be a “broad-spectrum” resolution maker. I would determine to lose weight, be more patient, kind—well, you know the drill. I knew I was setting myself up to fail, but it’s what you do for the New Year, right?! Then, I got “smarter.” I thought about the verse in Ecclesiastes 5:5 that says, “It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.” I believe this verse is talking about making vows to God, but hey, the words seemed to fit—so I used them! No vowing. No resolutions. Then a few years ago I discovered something about myself—
I love getting a new calendar at the beginning of the year! It’s like a clean slate. I go to the store and get the Weekly Calendar. It is the kind that when you open it, it displays Monday-Sunday on the two pages at which you are looking. Each day has times from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Next to the time, you find lines on which to write appointments or anything you want to get done during a specific time period. I go through and write in all of the “knowns.” It feels so good to neatly put in all of the activities that you know will take place on specific days/times. Then I write in birthdays, anniversaries—all of the unchangeables. However, what never fails to make me laugh is that while looking at last year’s calendar (in order to transfer that important information!) at about week three in January, the activities being written are not as neat—most are—should I say it?—really messy! LIFE HAPPENS!
Our life activities don’t always fit into the neat, resolution-type boxes that we vow on New Year’s Day. Sometimes it gets messy, hurried, frustrating. Sometimes we try to do something and it seems that we are thwarted on every side. The very things we vowed to do, don’t get done. So what do we do? Well, I started putting a red check mark in my calendar next to an activity when it is completed. I do not go home until all of the things that needed to get done that day have a red check beside them. If the activity happens after working hours, I check it off the next day. By weeks end—all things should be checked off!
My desire has become this—to complete each day well. To complete each day doing the work that God has called me to do for His honor and His glory. I can do a day. I can teach the women here at Shepherd’s Gate that they can do a day! If that seems too overwhelming, well then, do a 30 minute time slot. Do something today! The key for me is Psalm 90:12 which says, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Another version says, “Teach us to live wisely and well.” Now THAT’S a New Year’s resolution!
