The year is closing

Everywhere you look, you'll see the best of 2010, the worst of 2010, and lists of things we won't forget, or at least pop culture thinks we shouldn't forget.  Your family I'm sure has it's own.

We have had our roller coaster ride like anyone else.  We have had challenges that have terrified us, and at the same time built us up.  We have said too many very sad goodbyes, but also many more hellos and welcome to the worlds!

It is only by Grace that each day we awake with fresh possibilities, opportunities and a choice of how we paint our canvas.

This is a time of year that many consider resolutions of one sort or another.  I have participated in declaring a word to approach a new year...such has gratefulness, adventure, or inspiring. I have had fitness goals, healthy habit resolutions or vow to just read more books for me. My favorite one was the year I began a grateful journal, I only stuck to it for about six weeks, but it changed my life!

Most of the time for resolutions we will focus on an area of life that we have self declared...NEEDS IMPROVEMENT.  But consider this, maybe not all of us have to be master chefs, star athletes or precisely punctual, and maybe some magical number on the scale isn't truly what will bring us happiness.  Look at what you do daily in your life.  What inspires you? What lifts you up? What is something you easily loose track of time while doing?  These are your strengths and instead of improving on your perceived failures, focus on improving your strengths.

I challenge you to be the best YOU, and your God given talents that make you uniquely YOU!  Not all of us need to sing in the choir, someone needs to enjoy the talents of those in the choir.  Stop beating yourself up for things that you struggle to attain, and rejoice in where you are, what you have attained, and who you truly are.


So I share with you my resolutions.

To say YES to things that are enjoyable to me and to say no when it would bring me weariness.
To build upon my strengths and not to worry about not succeeding in other areas.
To know and trust that God has equipped me with exactly what I need to do the work I am called to do.

Have an adventurous and beautiful 2011!