Resolutions

The year 2006 was ushered in very quietly for me and for the first time in many years I decided that my New Years’ resolution was to not make any. Many people including myself in the past have made many unattainable resolutions that made them feel depressed. I don’t need any additional burdens to make me depressed for God knows that there are many things especially at this time of year that can do that.

The short days and long nights are more than enough for some people to handle, never mind adding the additional stresses such as paying the huge credit card bills that have been amassed in spending for Christmas, or the higher heating bills due to the cold winter. The first of the year always brings news that my real estate taxes have just been increased by eight percent and the realization that the IRS will shortly begin mailing my tax forms that I will have to prepare to file. For some this is welcomed news because they expect to get a refund but to others it means the payment of another bill, which is going to be costlier since the Postal Service is about to increase the price we pay for postage.


When you make a resolution you are making a firm decision to do something. It doesn’t say that you are making a firm decision to start something, something that will never be completed.

It seems that most of my resolutions, such as to lose weight, or to exercise daily, or to eat a healthy diet have made it to different stages but have always fallen short. I start out with a firm conviction and I try to stay on whatever regiment I choose. At first I feel good about what I’m doing but then gradually as January ends I find myself slowly getting away from it and normally by the of February, I find myself back to my old ways. Depression sets in at realizing that I’ve failed to complete what I started out to do.

This year, I will concentrate only on the present and take things one day at a time. I will try not to worry about what has passed and not what’s about to come. I realize that the only thing I can control is just what is happening this moment.

As I think about change and how I would go about changing something, I look to Mother Nature for examples. When a tree is planted and it doesn’t get support, most times the wind and weather will cause it to grow crooked. Once we notice that it has started to bend, we cannot straighten it out just buy pushing on it once. If we intervene at the beginning, we can tie it to a firm stake and provide for it the continuous support it needs until it has straightened and is able to sustain itself.

We too need support. We too need someone to be our stake. Our stake might be as simple as words of encouragement of love and forgiveness. As a stake we need to be strong because we will face more bad weather and wind and cannot break.

Look at the sea and how consistent the waves are. Notice how smooth the rocks are where the waves have gently and continuously washed over them, many of these rocks didn’t start out as being smooth; many had rough and jagged edges and over the years of constant washing over, the waves have turned them into beautiful smooth stones.

Spiritually I relate this to what our Lord Jesus Christ does for us continuously. He loves us unconditionally. Like the waves, He is constantly washing over us to smooth our imperfections. He forgives us more than the seventy seven times mention in Scripture as long as we reconcile our sins and stay in his waters. Even when we feel abandoned (low tide) the Lord will come to us (high tide) over and over.

If you find yourself alone without a stake for support be at solace because the Lord is always with you and remember these words from Psalm 55: 22;

Cast your burden on the Lord
And he will sustain you;
He will never permit
The righteous to be moved.