Best Wishes For The Coming Year

31 Dec

“A little smile, a word of cheer, A bit of love from someone near, A little gift from one held dear, Best wishes for the coming year. These make a merry christmas!”  ~ John Greenleaf Whittier

What do we do with Christmas?  That is an important question.  What do we do with it?  Do we merely bottle it up when it is finished.  Do we box it up with all the decorations only to store it and bring it out again next year?  Or do we, instead, take it and give it freely and lovingly to others?  I say we do the latter.

If we prepared ourselves properly throughout Advent, we will realize that Christmas was not just a day.  It was not just a celebration.  It was not just an excuse to gather with family and friends, exchanging gifts and eating fresh-baked goodies.  No.  Christmas was a reality.  It was something that came into our lives in a special way, touching our very souls, and reshaping us more into the image of Christ.

Jesus never hid Himself.  He never boxed Himself up and put Himself away for another day.  He was always out there, front and center, mingling with His people, listening to their woes, giving them a word to comfort, healing their ills, and raising their dead.  He still does the same today and He asks us to be a part of His mission joining in His work, loving His people, bringing a word of cheer and love that will rouse them.

This is something that is more than just for the season of Christmas.  This is something that needs to be carried over into the New Year which is why we are reflecting upon this today.  2021 has been another year of upheaval.  We have had mighty highs and desperate lows.  The pandemic continues to touch our lives.  Weather patterns have caused major damage by fire, earthquakes, and hurricanes.  Civil unrest is at near highs.

The world itself seems to be tottering.  Civility is no longer the norm.  Hatred and violence appear to be spreading faster than ever before.  But none of this needs to be.  We might not be able to change the weather patterns nor the lives of others; but, we can change our own lives.  If we live the Christmas peace that we have celebrated this past Saturday, we can change our outlook.

Who knows?  That might be enough to change the outlook of someone around us.  And that person might effect a change in another.  And every individual, living the peace of Christ collectively, might change the world for good rather than ill.  Be the element of change that the world needs to see.

May your best day of 2021 be your worst day of 2022.  May your days only get better and better.  May you understand and respond to God’s love for you.  A Blessed, Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year to you and yours!

FAITH ACTION:  Either prepare or review New Year’s resolutions and try to incorporate a resolution or two that will attempt to bring Christ into the world in a newer way by what you say and do.