Resolutions, Forgiveness and Christmas Lights

See this article on resolutions:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/trend-watch/2011/01/06/
Specifically "...resolution's Latin root, which meant 'the separation of something into smaller or simpler parts.'"

The typical New Year's resolutions include:
- Weight loss/Exercise/Healthy living
- Giving up something, i.e., caffeine, sweets, smoking, drinking
- Getting out of debt
- More time with God/Bible Study/Christian Fellowship
- More time with family/friends
- Enjoy life more (whatever that entails)
- Learn something new.

One year, I resolved to write more letters to family and friends. Feeling disconnected by the latest, greatest technology - at the time, email - I wanted to reconnect with loved ones via the written word. Pretty paper, colored ink, a return address on the envelope!

But resolutions don't last long for the vast majority that make them. Oh some make it several months, but most fizzle out after a few weeks of effort. To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure that I wrote more than 2 letters, maybe.

Accountability helps. Studies have shown that resolutions last slightly longer when you have someone to support and encourage you. Personally, the only time that it worked for me was when I gave up chocolate for Lent. God was my accountability buddy. And to this day, I'm not much a fan of chocolate, at all.

Psalm 18:18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support.
Psalm 94:18 When I said, "My foot is slipping, your love, O Lord, supported me.

Sometimes, we'll resolve to be more forgiving. To have a non-judgemental spirit. To remove the plank from our own eye.

Our group had decided on a forgiveness study just prior to being invited to join in the Untangling Relationships class. I believe we may have to untangle relationships before we can mend them through forgiveness.

...the separation of something into smaller or simpler parts...

Every year we get the strings of Christmas lights out. We work and work at untangling the twists and knots that somehow occured like magic during the previous 11 months in that bin in the attic/garage/closet.

We then plug in the strand to find the burnt out bulbs that inevitabally exist - again, like magic.

Once they're separated, and the small bulbs repaired/replaced, one by one, we plug in the strands to reveal bright, beautiful, LIGHT.

I pray this is a year of resolution for us all. I pray we can untangle relationships so that we can forgive each other and finally, SHINE, for the Kingdom of God.

Remember, that whatever you tackle - resolutions, fears, dreams, Christmas lights - break it into smaller manageable pieces, untangle what you can, repair the rest, and lean on God for support.