[Note: I'll start back on the Arkansas Memories Tour of 2009 next week. There are a lot more stories to tell from that tour, the next chapters being all about when "the boys" lived in Cotter, AR. For today - thoughts on this "new" year.]
Every January I take stock of my life a little differently than most people do, who make resolutions. I pick out a word for the year by which I want to define my life.
This year’s word is “Calmness” and/or “Serenity.” As in the Serenity Prayer (see below). Most of us know the first few lines as AA’s motto, but I doubt that many of you know (1) that Reinhold Neibuhr wrote it, or (2) that there are more lines to the prayer. Very significant lines, I think.
We all have times of turbulence and turmoil in our lives, and my life is no different. The past six months of my life have been especially stressful and demanding. There have been moments when I have had no clue as to what to say or do next and have completely let myself fall apart, I’m afraid.
I’ve determined in my heart to try to remain much more calm and serene this year in the face of all struggles, anger of others, and strife. I seek wisdom from our Father in all things and pray that He does grant me serenity. I want to speak in a softer voice, using self-control and patience to bring assurance to all with whom I speak.
Please pray with me that God will help me in these things. Maybe you can (will, I hope) give me some suggestions about how to carry out this “purpose” in my life. (Like just talking with y’all, right?! All of you calm, totally “together” friends, who would never dream of saying anything distressing to me – right?!)
As for you – what word would you most like to have as your guiding force for this year? And why? Please share with me today so that I will not feel alone in being the only one who needs to work on such things in my life.
I leave you with the Serenity Prayer, in full:
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The Serenity Prayer
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God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time;
In loving memory of |
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Trust in the LORD with all your heart Proverbs 3, 5-6 |
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Dee Andrews
I’d never read the rest of that prayer. Good words. Serenity is a good theme for any person’s life. Knowing a bit of all you’ve been going through lately, you need that calmness that comes only from the Spirit. God’s blessings on a calmer, more serene year, Dee!
Came across this motto on a friends FB–“Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option” I know if I practice that, it will bring a lot of calmness to my life!
I’m all for some serenity. Goodness knows kids today have a very tough time with this concept.
For some reason I’m reminded of the flip side of “serenity” as it was portrayed in a Saturday Night Live skit hosted by David Carradine. Carradine was pretending to be his old character from the T.V. show, “Kung Fu,” as he walked the streets of New York City.
In the skit, he’s approached by several thugs intent on doing him harm. As he did so often on “Kung Fu,” he has a flashback to his days with Master Po. When he asks the venerable Kung Fu Master, “Master, what should I do,” Master Po responds in a serene voice with an un-serene message. He says,” Kick their butts Grasshopper!”
I want to stay focused on bible study this year. Larry and I are reading the bible through for the fourth or fifth time together. We started in Matthew and will go through the New Testament and then the OT. We get so much out of reading and studying together. It’s good for us as a couple and it brings us closer to God. It’s always exciting to have God reveal his truth to us on things we have read and re-read and suddenly we have those “light bulb moments”.
I guess the bottom line is that I learn to completely surrender “all of me” to “all of Him”.
FOCUS – seems like I am too busy to stop and focus. Probably I need to be serene in order to focus?
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