Growing up, celebrating the new year meant staying up late, going to the midnight service, and having breakfast at 2am. As an adult, I still cherish these memories. Now, my favorite thing about the celebration includes the energy and anticipation that the new year brings. Everyone is excited about finishing the current year and has high hopes for the new year. Whatever we could not accomplish in the current year, we may be able to achieve this time around. Along with our “Happy New Year” wishes we say, “this is my year”. So, here is to new and better things to come. And here is to the things that we will survive, overcome, and use as stepping stones to greater things. And here is to the people that will be on this journey with us.
While many people have their New Year resolutions, here are two things we can all do a little more of this year:,.
1- Live in the moment. We all have goals and plans. We want to celebrate the small wins on our way to the big wins, but in the midst of all that, we should appreciate today. We will never get another chance to live today. We will never be in this place, with these people, living this moment in time. Today is the only chance we have to live today.
2- Give more grace. Life is hard. We need grace and we need to give grace. God tells us not to worry (Luke 12:32), not to get confused (John 14:1), and to trust in Him (John 16:33). He also encourages us to help each other (Gal 6:2). He urges us to bring healing, life, and deliverance to our world (Matthew 10:8). The only way we do this is by sharing God’s grace and by loving the way God loves us (Ephesians 5:2).
So, as you anticipate what the new year is going to bring, and you plan for what you want to accomplish, don’t forget to live in the moment and remember to help those around you. We have 365 opportunities to make a difference in our lives and the lives of those around us. We have 8,760 hours before we say goodbye to this year, and we welcome the next.