Goodbye 2009

Paul and I and the kids all went to Mass tonight in honor of the Solemnity of Mary. It is such a beautiful way to close out one year and bring in the next- a time to reflect and thank God for all His blessings over the last year and a time to look forward and pray for the coming year by asking the Blessed Mother, Queen of Peace, to keep us close to her and bring us closer to her son. I can think of no better way to celebrate this holiday.

As tradition has it, people usually make resolutions for the new year after thinking about the past year. The priest asked us to think about how we have spent our time over the last year or better yet what we have "wasted"our time on. He challenged us to think about how much time we really "wasted" on God or things like taking a nap or playing a game. Of course he was referring to things that by worldly standards might be looked at as wasted time, but when looking at it from and eternal and spiritual perspective it is anything but wasted time. His challenge to us and now mine to you in the new year is to "waste" more time on God, to spend more time in prayer-simple prayers like "Jesus, I love you," "Jesus, You love me," or my personal favorite, "Jesus, I trust in You."

Looking back on 2009 brings me great joy; it was a year of stepping out in faith and learning to TRUST God not ourselves. We were challenged, and thankfully we have learned to trust Him a great deal. Real trust doesn't come with out a price, and it is not just something that happens with out sufferring and sacrifice; it takes faith and saying yes to the will of God even when you don't understand or like what you are going through. We are now thankfully reaping the harvest and have much to be greatful for.

One of the beautiful results of true trust in God is peace and joy. The kind of peace and joy that surpasses understanding, that's present even when you are sufferring. God gave me a beautiful vision for what He desires for us in the new year- PEACE. I felt Him calling us to make that next step out in faith where we can always be at peace becuase we trust so much. I know He has been tilling the soil, and our family is ready, but it won't be easy when so much can challenge our peace of mind and spirit. I think He's asking us yet again to step it up again and challenge our thinking and our patterns. I'm excited!

What is He asking of you in this new year?