Was 2021 a hard year for you? I suspect for most, even if it wasn’t “hard,” it at least had a downward slope. Thus, why I like this humorous graphic from Clipart.com:
🙂
Personally, other than the sense of malaise that COVID-19, politics, and the economy provided, I cannot complain. I remained employed in a job I love (great company, great boss, and a great team), my first grandchild arrived, my family is healthy…
And I could go on. Thank you Lord for all my blessings.
It doesn’t mean 2021 didn’t have its challenges. I tore the patella tendon off my left kneecap and am still far from 100% after surgery. Work was overwhelming for a couple months (or more). My youngest son was in the hospital for a few days thanks to myocarditis from his second Pfizer shot.
Not to mention, I type this recovering from mouth surgery that was required so I can keep my front teeth. Let’s just say the prescribed mush diet, especially over the holiday period, is less than appealing. 🙂
Knowing that God’s blessings (both temporal and eternal) far outweigh these hiccups (and the sense of malaise), sadly, doesn’t mean I don’t get depressed or negative. I do, but one might argue I essentially cry over spilt milk.
Which is why my #1 resolution for 2022 is…
Be more positive.
Why should I? Not only do I think it’ll have other benefits, but ’cause the Bible advices it. For instance…
Philippians 4:4 (New International Version):
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Now, I’m not talking about thoughtless or senseless forced emotion. The Bible isn’t like some positive-thinking self-help book. As Ecclesiastes 3:1 notes:
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
Which means:
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15).
I am not going to tell someone who is facing great loss to “think on the bright side,” and I will allow myself the honesty of my true feelings. However, I will choose the overall atmosphere of my emotions, and in 2022…
I will be more positive.
Will you join me?
(One request though…please click through the verse links above and read them in context. There is so much wisdom and beauty surrounding them, it almost feels wrong quoting such small snippets.)
Now…a more complete list of my resolutions for 2022:
- Be more positive
- Be more spiritual (prayer, eyes on Jesus, etc.)
- Family (being 2,000 miles away from most of them, I’ll need God’s wisdom on what this means)
- Read through the Bible (please visit here if you want to join me)
- Be deliberate, but don’t worry if I cannot get everything done
- Learn to play the keyboard (and make music with controllers and DAWs)
- Listen; really listen
- Read more and write more
- Take more photos and record more videos
- Love more
What do you think? What’s on your list?
Whatever yours is, and no matter how 2021 was for you, Happy New Year and I hope that 2022 is your best year ever!
(Cross-posted on my Nibbles.Ninja blog.)
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