As this new year has laid no waste and has already befallen us, there have been an onslaught of posts and discussion of resolutions. It seems good in theory, but I always wonder what it would look like if people spent more time pursuing the things they wanted to now, instead of waiting for that new year. I wonder what it would look like if people would take now to lose that 10 extra pounds they keep talking about... take their health seriously now, not in the future; read that book they've been meaning to read for decades now... it may contain some invaluable wisdom for you now, before you get to the future; enjoy life more now... why are we always waiting for these things again? It escapes me.
St. Augustine comes to mind this moment as I ponder about such things. "You have made us for yourself, Oh Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You." I'm not sure it could be much simpler than that. How often do we look outside of ourselves for this fulfillment of self, when, the wiser thing to do would be to look within, for within, we are forced to look upon that reflection of self... that reflection which, when we have focused on all the wrong things in life, we end up loathing and forever trying to fill or change. Only when our hearts have been filled by Your Divine grace, and only when we have been filled by the peace that You, alone can give, will we ever be content.
I have decided that from here on out, I will make every effort to remind my brooding self that I am fearfully and wonderfully made in His image. I will treat myself with love, for I cannot grow in love if I fail to continue to grow in self love. It's always easier to brood and focus on the things that are wrong with you, saying that you do it to change or you do it so you learn from it. I think there can be a fine line between learning from it & brooding... & the brooding can lead to self loathing, where we forget how we have been made in His image.
I will continue to make the most of every day I am blessed with and when I fall, I will get up, as graciously as I can, I will look with gratitude at the opportunity to begin again, having learned a valuable life lesson, and I will show love in all I do. The love of neighbor comes easier for me, and although I may not loathe myself anymore, I still have much work to do.
Gratitude opens the door for abundance in our life. I believe God wants that for each and every one of us. The more we give of these two things, the more we have... I have found this to be true.
Gratitude and love are what I want to focus my time and efforts on. From the wisdom of a new friend, either love or fear are what motivates a person. I believe that to be true, from my own experiences in life. We usually fear the unknown. We are usually content to wallow in the past or too comfortable there to change the situation because we fear the unknown. It's new, it's uncomfortable. This is what I want to instill in my babes for them to focus on in their lives. If I can impart any wisdom to them, it would be this. Let love be your motivator. Walk in the image of God, which is what He desires for all of us, and we are all capable of doing, and be fearless in your lives. For, when you have God on your side, what is there to fear? And, when you love yourself, there is a pretty good indication you like that reflection staring back at you from the mirror... the image and likeness of God.
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