Happy 2009!

Wow! Okay, I really must say it: It's 2009, already! Some in my family are making resolutions for this new year. William is hoping to be more consistent which has been his goal for many of the past years. Ha! Now that is consistency! My dad's resolution is trying not to interrupt my mom when she's speaking; although we might all enjoy his attempt at an optimistic point of view, including Mom since Dad greets her each morning with coffee and the daily "depressing and hopeless" current events. In his most determined voice, he will not attempt such a resolution that is doomed to fail as he greatly enjoys the "trauma" inflicted by reading the morning news and sharing it with Mom first thing. Mom figured out that for Dad resolutions require a sacrifice of some sort like giving up sugar in 2007, instead of attempting a goal like running a marathon or writing a journal. Mom does not conform to this tradition by creating resolutions for herself but tries to remind Dad of his goal such as last year when he attempted to censure his mouth before letting out any unthoughtful words. He gave it a good try for a few weeks.

What are my resolutions? Well, I don't have any diets and extra exercise regimens in mind. Not that I wouldn't benefit from them, and I am limiting the amount of sugar our family devours at dessert. I'm also not going to set the noble goal of posting to my new blog on a daily basis. Actually, that goal is more lofty than noble. In such a life as I live, resolutions can be detrimental if I'm not careful, so this year I resolve not to resolve.

What? I mean this year I will cut myself some slack when time runs out and the list remains long. I will not set too high of expectations of myself by not self-inflicting guilt when I fall short. I will accept today even though it is hard and also allow myself to be tired at the end of it. I will focus on what I have and try not be disappointed by what I wish could happen. The "if only" will be forgotten because I will not compare my life to the normal and exciting lives of other people. When friends and strangers find my life inspirational by being thankful that their challenges are fewer, I resolve to feel honored and will try not to tease them about "my overwhelming troubles" changing their perspective on how much worse their lives could be. Ha Ha! Okay, I still will tease. But, I will remind myself that I am honorable to receive and eat from such a large and heavy-laden plate at the buffet of life.

It seems to me that maybe a diet might be better as I think of buffets and plates full of food. Well! So as I resolve not to resolve, I will point out to loving and helpful people that the Lord often gives man (and woman) much more than he can handle when it is not the temptations of life but the overwhelming troubles of it that heavily burden a person. What I mean is the plate He has given me is too big for my eyes and too stuffed for my stomach! So, my resolution is to offer this big, heavy plate back to Him who has the voracious appetite. "Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of your Wings." (Psalm 61) Lord, I resolve not to resolve and to offer back all these responsibilities which you have entrusted to me.

HMM! I guess essentially my resolution is a diet! Although, I never will leave the buffet hungry or too full either. Now that's my kind of resolution! Here's to big holiday buffets, new year's diets...and here's to your 2009, M&R7