Happy New Year!
Well, I hope the New Year is off to a wonderful start for all of you. Perhaps some of you have met the first few days of 2009 as I have, battling a hefty flu/cold for the last couple of days. I always like to think that getting sick is God’s way of telling me to slow down.
Not that the holidays were very hectic, but they always seem to be a whirlwind of activity and so the down time to rest and recuperate was welcoming.
However, as I am sure most Moms will agree, we just don’t seem to really know what it means to rest. I have a full time job outside of my home, as most of you know, but the past 2 days I stayed home because I knew that since I felt like I had been hit by a truck I would not be very functional at work.
At first I listened to my bodies cry for extra rest, and did just that. After an hour or so, I felt compelled to clean up, until the dizzy spells come on strong and I rested again. Still not fully giving in to taking this opportunity to rest, as I caught a glimpse of the ever ripening bananas and I know my children thoroughly enjoy home made banana cake, I decide to bake a cake. That will not take too much energy right? Until mid way through I realize I am out of eggs. I call my husband to ask him to pick up some eggs on his way home from work, and reluctantly resign to rest a bit more.
Now as I rest on the living room sofa, I can see that the carpet is in dire need to be vacuumed. This I know will take more energy than I am willing to exert, but I start to think that perhaps I am just being lazy and refuse to give in to this cold. Why do we do this to ourselves, women?
Wouldn’t you know it, within half hour I am dragging the central vacuum hose through the house and as I am vacuuming the unthinkable happens, some how the vacuum stops working. Now I am beat, and I think of the situation with the cake and now the vacuum and realize that God must be telling me that I should be resting, not baking cakes and vacuuming. Did I listen? Well temporarily. My husband informs me it was just a short in the fuse that has to be re-set so there I go again and finish vacuuming.
When my dear husband comes home with eggs and a few extra groceries, together we prepare dinner, he helps the boys with homework and before I know it I am turning into to bed a midnight. Only to awaken the next morning a little worse off then the day before.
Did I listen now? Definitely, I took the day to rest, read and contemplate. Watched a movie with the boys and got to bed early.
This contemplation prompted me to write my first post of the year. I thought it might be original of me to discuss meaningful New Year’s resolutions. Alright, perhaps it’s not that original, but that is all the rage this time of year, and the thought that keeps crossing my mind is how can I make a concrete resolution that I will not fail at in two weeks time?
I am sure that thought crosses most people’s minds, since studies apparently show that most of us will fail at our resolutions.
What if we were to ask God what his will is for us? What does He want to us to add or take away from our lives that could help or could be hindering us from truly living out His will for our lives?
I challenge all of my friends and family, as I am challenging myself to prayerfully consider what God is asking of you. How can we make 2009 different from other years?
Perhaps there is room for a more disciplined prayer life. Individually or as a family, I do rise early to pray and pray before bed. This makes a tremendous difference to my day, try it and see. If you already do this, then perhaps consider adding a scripture meditation to your daily prayer life. Fr. John Bartunek may be of assistance for you in this aspect: Click Here I use his book, The Better Part to assist with my daily meditation.
A resolution I am working on is to pray a daily rosary and grow in my devotion to Mother Mary. I will be reading a book titled, The Secrets of the Rosary.
Another option may be perhaps a call to act. Prayer is always essential, but we are also called to act as people of faith. Perhaps the Holy Spirit may inspire you to join a ministry in your parish community. Another great resolution is to “sharpen your sword” what I mean by this to that you resolve to learn your faith in order to be able to defend it. Get to know St. Paul or the other saints, read formative books.
I am very interested in hearing from you as to what the Holy Spirit inspires you to resolve to do this year. Please comment here or send me an e-mail.
For now, be assured of my prayers for a fruitful and holy New Year!
