As the New Year approaches, I always take time to reflect on things. When you reflect, you think about everything that has happened to you throughout the year (past). You also think about what direction you want your life to take (future). Yes, new year is a doorstep to the future.
The same sentiment on the future, somehow has made my
youngest son, Caleb, a bit despondent when he was listening his older siblings
talk over a late dinner - on what they would become 10 years from now. Caleb, has
a high emotional intelligence and he was teary-eyed when he shared what the
future will hold for him and how worried he was for the future.
It took a while for me and Joy to explain to an 11-year-old
boy about how not to worry about the future and just enjoy the blessings of
today. I even shared the Latin quote his grandfather, my Dad, has shared with
us 7 children when I was his age – “Quid sit futurum cras fugue quarere”, loosely
translated as “Forbear to ask what tomorrow may bring”. I hope he did understand
us.
Actually, everything that happened the past year, Covid and
all, encapsulates the worries we all have and will have for the new year. The
uncertainty of what may come and what may be, tomorrow. And yet, we focused much
of our worries and anxieties, and seemingly ignored the blessings and good fortunes
that came our way, the very gift of what you have right now. The value of every
thing and every one with you right now. It’s like receiving a gift from someone
who was excited and eager to give you one and when opening it you felt it was
not meaningful for you and was not paying attention to the giver.
How much we missed out the actual value of the gift and ignored
the reaction of the person giving the gift expecting we will like it. We just ignored
that we survived, are alive, overcame the difficulties and the challenges that we
faced in the past year with the persons with us at this moment – our family and
our loved ones.
We should be reflecting, how blessed we are. Not in money.
Not in popularity. Not in an absorbent amount of material things. We’re blessed
with far richer things (things that no one can take away), such as our growing faith,
our healed relationships, new wisdom, newfound creativity, gained-knowledge,
desire to explore, willingness to learn, ability to understand others and
having inner self peace.
You're blessed! If you feel down about something happening
in your life, remember there's always someone experiencing something far worse
(loss of a home, loss of a loved one, nothing to eat or illness). It just takes
looking at someone's situation, to realize yours is not so bad. Embrace and be
thankful for what you DO have. Have FAITH that whatever problems you are
experiencing at the moment will end in due time. There's always sunshine after
a storm.
Going into the New Year (which in my view is a time for
CHANGE and GROWTH). We need to ask the One above for things we may need when
life presents itself to us. We may ask God to give us the grace to love but HE doesn't
just give us the grace directly - He gives us opportunities to use the grace.
We pray for patience, He doesn't just
give us patience he gives us chances opportunities to be patient. If we pray
for generosity or to be merciful he gives us opportunities to be generous or
opportunities to be merciful.
We should also resolve ourselves to love more, as what St
Paul usually exhorts. To love the right things. This means, we need to have the
right discernment – to let your head lead your heart so we can truly love what
is worth loving. Appreciate the true value of a thing before trying to love.
I want to encourage you to LET GO of what was. If you
willingly LET GO, GOD replaces it with something better. We used to hold on for
dear life to people, places and things that weren't good for me. Don't hold on
to those type of people or things. They only bring you down and make you feel
bad. Cut the ties and surround yourself with uplifting people and things.
People that make you feel good. Things that make you feel good.
Life can be far from sweet, and life is definitely not a bed
of roses. But just like a garden, you must prune (cut-back) and weed (get rid
of) for it to be pretty. Clear your "life garden" of what is
unnecessary and not good. LET GO of all the gunk and crap that clogs up your
life (whatever or whoever it may be). Some may not like your decision, but in
the end it's about you and your wellbeing. Clear your path and make way for
something better. Let go of the old, so there's room for new.
And just like God’s abounding love – which is a focused love
for us. That is why, he came down as human being to show to us how deeply he loves
us by becoming one of us, feel our joys, our pains, our sufferings and eventually
give up his life for us to hold the promise of life and love eternal after the
end of our lives.
My prayer to all those worried about the future - A blessed and hopeful New Year to all!
NEW YEAR’S REFLECTION AND PRAYER
As the old year ends and a new one begins, take time.
Time to remember the struggles you faced, and mistakes you might have made, and maybe even loved ones you lost.
In every year, you experience heartache. This one was no different.
And in remembering, find a seed of hope hidden in yesterday.
Remember how you’ve been blessed. Re-live when you found unexpected strength. Recall where you saw God’s great Spirit at work, and know his mercy kept you going all this time.
Recognize his mercy. Ask for his peace.
The peace that pours out every moment of every day from the wounds of Christ.
Prepare us Lord for the New Year. Lift us up and place in our hearts a renewed desire to know and worship you more.
Give us your abundant grace. Shower us with your healing love.
May your eternal Kingdom reign in our hearts and our lives. May the New Year show us once again your eternal mercy and glory.
And let us sing your praises with great joy.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
