Conversations with God

Hello God, it’s me, Mara:

You know, Lord, we’re already into January but have any of us made resolutions? If that word means to make “a firm decision on something,” how come we frail humans break our resolutions as fast as we make them? Maybe we should choose more wisely?

We could all stand to gain some control over our health. Your Word says in Psalms 90:10, “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if reason to strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off and we fly away.” We all like the idea of “strength.” It wouldn’t hurt any of us to make resolutions to better our health.

We could all resolve to: 1) drink more water, 2) worry less, 3) wear our seatbelts, 4) floss and brush our teeth daily, 5) know our ideal weight and maintain it, 6) never kill the urge to be silly, 7) wear shoes that fit, 8) cultivate a new hobby or outside activity, 9) dispose of outdated prescriptions, 10) reward ourselves more, 11) use the stairs more, 12) plant a flower, 13) forget the “if onlys” in our life, 14) improve our posture, 15) cry more, laugh more, hug more, touch more, and 16) slow down and smell more roses.

Lord, help each one of us to cut some of these resolutions deep into us to form new and healthy habits. Yes, it’s January – a cold month of freezing and frost. We know that the days begin to lengthen, storms begin to strengthen; winter does a frantic battle, just like we do inside ourselves.

There’s music in the winds as they jangle icy branches like a chorus of bells. We, too, can sing a melody as we fine-tune resolutions to improve us. Thank You, Lord, for the reminder.

Love, Mara