Broken resolutions

I had hoped to blog consistently. It wasn't really a New Year's Resolution, more of a plan, hope and/or desire. But it hasn't happened. I think of what I want to write all the time, but things get in the way. I rarely find the time to sit and write. So many things happen that I do not have control of. But I will try again...

Are there other things that you thought would be different this year? Are there things that you hoped you would do and haven't had the time, energy, or finances to do? Is there something that has kept you from doing what you hoped to do?

 What I have learned is that I must be flexible. I recently read a book One Perfect Word by Debbie MacComber that challenges you to choose a word to focus on for the whole year. You study it, learn it from all directions, and grow from it. I thought long and hard about what my word would be if I did this and the word that came to me for right now was adaptability. I feel like I am in a place where I must continually be adapting to new situations and plans, and accept what is before me. It is so hard sometimes to plan and look forward to  things, only to have them change because of someone else. Yet I have chosen to be 'on call' for certain people in my life and when they need me, I try to be there for them. When it changes my plans, I need to go with a joyful heart that says, "I care about you."

So what does this have to do with broken resolutions? Resolutions, goals are good. We all need to put goals in front of ourselves that stretch us and force us to move beyond where we are right now. We need to do things that cause us to rely on God. Yet no resolution or goal is more important than people and relationships. So instead of beating myself up for not keeping my resolutions, I am OK with it. I have not attained all my goals... Yet... Instead I have reached for other goals, doing what God has placed in front of me for this moment. I am trying to reach out in love, letting go of my ideas of what I should be doing. I tell my daughter often, "It is only for a season." No situation lasts forever. There will be times to do other things, like writing, in the future, if God wills it! If not, I know He is writing His story on our hearts and I want to be part of that most of all. That is the true joy of my heart.