Practical and Inspirational ideas for the New Year from other bloggers

  I was reading different blogs recently (a new non-written resolution of mine, to keep up with blogs I like) and I discovered a few great pearls of wisdom about what is important about making resolutions.

Practical: 

On The Simple Mom's blog post on NY's resolutions, she discusses about the importance of creating habits and how much more effective that is than just making a whole entire resolution and hoping it will come to pass by the end of the year. The way to create lasting habits is to start with one small step at a time. I should know that, but an eager 'eater' like myself, I tend to bite off more than I can chew. My first habit change should be choosing smaller bites, and not just when it comes to food. I am not sure how I will start with this, but I am going to try for the next few weeks to focus on one thing that I want to do, and make sure I take small steps. For example, even though this is definitely not a top priority, this coming week I have decided to just let myself get my Homemaking Notebook in order. I'll share more about this and all the free printables and ideas about creating one I found online. All the information about them was a good thing as well as not so good, because now how do I simplify and create what I need from all those ideas? Well, I'll let you know how I've worked it out later on! My main challenge will be to NOT waste time finding the 'perfect' little design to print for my cover!

Inspirational:

 Another great thought comes from this mom at Inspired to Action who is actually learning about 'getting things done' from her seven year old, who read the entire Bible in less than a year. I am so impressed as well as so utterly challenged and convicted! How did she do it? Simply by doing it, one page at a time, anytime she could (choosing to read the Bible in her free time over other things). The main thing that hit me is that she didn't talk about wanting to do it. She just started doing it. It was something just for her to think about and not to talk about with others (wanting to have something to 'show' like I might have done). I have a cousin as well as a sister who seem to get things done all the time, finishing what they have started. I have always thought that they have a gift. Perhaps it's also because they just don't waste time talking about things and just do them!Perhaps if I would follow that example and not blog about all I want to do.... 

Resolutions....to do it or not

Resolutions: the bad and ugly:
For the past few years, especially since Jman was born, I would have written a list of personal resolutions for the new year: lose weight, get organized in my routines and at home, have a set time to read the Bible and pray, etc. And this year it would be the same (well, the lose weight would have to wait for another six months), but I have not wanted to because it makes me feel bad.
 In the past I have gotten started on my resolutions, but then I stop, sometimes starting back again, and then stopping again. For good. Something happens. It can be an illness, a couple days out of town and I am blown off course, but honestly it's because I lose stamina and sheer will. I don't have the passion to go on. However, the more and more I think about my resolutions and the way I approach them is this: I am very good at planning what I need to do and getting all sorts of ideas to 'better' myself and implement my goals: I get all the books I can find at the library, find more online, buy new day planners, get them all in order...but it's actually DOING it that just is so hard! And then I feel like a failure. So right now I do not like resolutions because everyday I am thinking of things I have to resolve, in me, my children, my home....and it's enough to make me feel like I never get anything done.





The good and best thought about resolutions- the truth of why I keep failing:
 Typically when I think of new year's resolutions I am thinking of external changes, what I want to "see" or "do" differently. But there is another side to resolutions, and it's the most important one. Wanting to start "fresh" and "new" has spiritual implications. Part of us, our souls, yearns for more, desires more for us, for our life.

 For I hear Him, the One who strives to get my attention, day after day, saying to me, and from the beginning of time, that I want the wrong things, I am going about it the wrong way! The things I want to change around me are not the most important usually, nor are they the ones that will bring me true happiness and peace. The truth is that my resolutions seem to always fall through because they are rooted in my own selfish desires. I desire my own perfectness, and not God's. Even reading His Word is about being 'better" at being Christian, and that is not what I want and believe Christian to mean- it is simply who I am by Grace. Nothing I can or could ever do. I had written, months ago now,a short little note that I kept as a word document on my computer:

Seek peace, not perfection. Perfection is not peace. We think we will have peace when we arrive to what we believe will be perfection (a perfect body? a perfect house? perfect spouse and kids? a perfect me?) whereas we won't ever achieve that and thus live without peace....

Ps. 34:14 "Seek peace and pursue it"

Peace is a gift God wants to give, a fruit of His Spirit

 My resolutions fail not only because I am trying to do it all by myself, but it's all about myself! I need to be about His kingdom, and not about a perfectly synchronized house routine and wonderfully behaved children (that reflect how wonderfully I am.) My first resolution must be not about me but about Him. And perhaps I won't need resolutions anymore, for He will take care of 'all the rest':

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matt. 6:31-33

 So to all those making resolutions, like myself, and hoping for a better year: seek first His kingdom. And take it one day at a time!

 Peace be with you.