Shredded Resolves

I spent the day yesterday taking down the Christmas tree and cleaning, moving furniture back into place, and helping my husband (just a little bit) prepare turkey dinner. He did most of the heavy work but I was exhausted from all the lifting and moving. I even managed to sew two curtains to fit into two glass doors. Our dog Molly managed to destroy the lace panels that hung there. Molly attempts to get at our upstairs cats that peer through the other side of these doors, slobbering as she does! I must say the cats aren’t there for long. Molly’s outrage at the nerve of these cats gets her jumping up and down on the lace curtains barking wildly. This usually sends the cats running back up to their abode on the second floor; fluffs of cat hair float down behind them landing like large snowflakes on the stairs! However, the effects of these antics also include the shredding of these lace enclosures!
Anyways, it seems in my preoccupations yesterday I forgot to make a list of my New Year’s resolutions. It is not like I haven’t thought about it because I have. Many of these resolves are older ones and were still fresh in my head this morning so I wrote a few of them down. As I look at them I realize the need for God’s mercy in addressing them all. Included this year of course, as always, is the need to get closer to God, my husband, and to help on a greater level in the assignment God has given me at the food bank/kitchen. As well, there are resolutions regarding looking after my body better which entail eating healthier (no sugars or breads!), taking a course on addictions, and walking daily.
Of course, I put the later down every year and each year I have good resolves and even lose a few pounds and successfully walk many miles in this endeavour. But each year somehow the sweets sneak back in during any excuse for a holiday, and the exercising disappears with the appearance of a rain drop, snow flake, or cold front.
Why am I telling you all this? I had to think for a second to answer that because I wasn’t sure myself. Then I was reminded of my previous article on keeping the faith. It dawned on me that I need to “keep the faith” not only in relationships but in looking after this body and any New Year resolves I may have. I have done these things year after year but perhaps keeping the faith suggests I keep at it and don’t give up. It is bigger than what I look at in the mirror; and that is not too small of a reflection! (Smile). Personal ambitions must include not only a desire, but actions, and trust in God. Somewhere it says “obedience is better than sacrifice”. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit and how we look after this body reflects on God. Sometimes I don’t reflect too well. Like the window where Molly jumps up and down and spits on with her big olive nose I, too, lose my shine. I need to clean up my act so I can be newly draped!
As I sit here today realizing my past failures I also recognize how God has blessed me over the years each time I have got back up and started all over again! My prayer for your and my resolutions is that along with our personal attempts to keep the faith we also see the mercy and grace of God. God is in the business of cleaning up our lives and gracing us with new garments of praise. That is where the hope must lie! So onward Christian soldiers …march off to war and keep the faith while you battle trusting God is with you! His mercy endures forever!