NEW

Welcome to the New Month.  The New Year.  The New Decade!

WOW, that is a LOT of newness all in one spot.  And yet, here we are at this point in history.  You and I are the ones who were born for this moment in time.  Do you feel the excitement as I do?

I've always been a fan of New.  I'm not sure if it started with my first pair of new shiny black patent leather shoes or with my first box of marvelous smelling Crayola crayons.  (Pretty sure my first box was only 24 as Mom didn't see the need for the full 48 and 64 was just a waste of money, in her thinking.)

As I've aged, I've become especially grateful for New beginnings.  If I didn't get it accomplished last year, here is a chance to try again.  If the old habit isn't yet broken, I have a brand new day to exercise discipline and see it gone.  Haven't experienced the answer to my prayers yet?  Maybe this is the season for my miracle.

There has just always been something exhilarating for me when a new beginning becomes visible on the horizon.  Remember the night before a new school year began?  New classes.  New friends.  New opportunities.

I grew up like many of my friends with a life bordering on the average.  (Of course, Grandma always made me feel extra special; isn't that the calling of every grandparent?)  But as each new year began, amid the normal feelings of anxiety and uncertainty I also had a wave of hope.  Hope that this year would be different.  I started feeling that every January 1st, as well.

New Beginnings!

Now, some people have let discouragements and disappointments "temper" their enthusiasm for new.  I've heard them managing their expectations with phrases like, "Aww, it's just like any other day."  "Why get all worked up about a new year?  We still have the same problems we had last year."  "We've started and failed at this so many times!  What makes this time different?"

Doesn't it make you sad just reading those thoughts?  While they may have an element of truth, they certainly don't leave room for possibility.  And I'm all about Possibility!  Especially the possibilities that come with each new day.  Each new year.  Each new decade.

While spending some time in reflection and prayer, I realized this past decade brought a literal population explosion to our family.  John and Joy had already married.  But Meagan married Nathan last decade and Kristin married Cody.  Between them all six, they then blessed us with NINE grandchildren.  That's exponential growth for any organization but especially for one family.

Sitting in my prayer place on January 1, 2010, I could never have envisioned so much JOY.  But I knew Frank and I were hoping for additional sons and for the gift of grandchildren.

Have we also had struggles?  Oh my YES!  Are there things we still haven't achieved?  Absolutely, quite a few to be honest.  Everyone's life is made up of difficulties and disappointments that make the victories even sweeter, if we allow them.

The choice lies in choosing to see what is possible in spite of disappointment.  That choice beckons us to embrace and celebrate the NEW.

Here are a few of my favorite reminders from the Bible:

• Revelation 21:5  "He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!'"
• Isaiah 43:18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!"
• Lamentations 3:23 "...his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning..."
• Psalm 40:3 "He put a new song in my mouth..."

Ah, Friend!  Don't squander the opportunity to look forward to the new possibilities coming your way.  Watch the horizon, NEW is upon us!


How about you?  Are you someone who also enjoys the idea of NEW?  What things happened in the past decade that were a surprise to you?  Please take a moment to share with us in the comment section.