Getting Ahead of the Resolution Game

I've already gotten a head start on my New Year's resolutions.

I know it’s a little early, but I figure I can use the extra time. 

Why wait for the first day in January when there's so much work to do?

I think what I'm resolving seems more like a renewal, maybe a transformation, even an aspiration, all wrapped up into a purposeful intention.

{Hmmm -- I wonder if one of those words should be my one word for 2017?}

This year I want to change and be different. 

Actually this is always my resolution. 

It's just that the areas I want to work on vary from year to year, depending on my current circumstances. 

This might sound a little peculiar, but I think it's time that I give up eye-rolling. 

And the sarcastic comments that go with the eye-rolls. And I'd like to soften the harder edges of my tones. 

I guess I really want my words and actions to show more grace to others, more kindness, more love. I wonder if it's possible?

The eye-rolling might be a hard habit to break though, since rolling my eyes is as ingrained in me as, well, my love for Pittsburgh Steelers football. 

Last week, my sister called to say my brother-in-law was ordering the Steelers game for us to watch on TV at her house. 

Since Florida teams get precedence in our viewing area and we don't see the Steelers very often, this was a nice surprise.

I put on my Steelers shirt and hurried over.

When I arrived, my sister was on a ladder decorating their tree.

The living room was strewn with ornament boxes. Dash the Dog was stealing cotton from under the tree and galloping through the house with sheets of it clenched between his teeth, long white streamers flowing behind him.

My niece and nephew were bickering over where the tree should go -- in the corner like always {Devon’s choice} or in the middle {my nephew’s pick} -- so my sister could show off her new tufted chairs. 

My brother-in-law was seated on the couch, giving directions to my nephew, who was setting up the train tracks that ran under the tree. 

I was a little confused at the chaos since I thought watching the game was the afternoon's featured event. 

The bickering went on well into the first half of the game, making me wish for closed caption since I could hardly hear the announcers' analysis. 

Finally, Devon crossed her arms and refused to decorate the tree. 

I had been asked for and given my opinion on the tree's location. I had tried to corral Dash the Dog. I had turned up the volume on the game. Finally I told Devon to suck it up and try a new location for the tree this year. 

When my brother-in-law agreed with me, she started to cry saying, “Daddy and Auntie are yelling at me.”

My sister gave me a look and told my nephew to move the tree back to its original spot in the corner. 

I felt terrible. That’s when I decided I'd better get started on my New Year’s resolutions right away.

I’m a northern, no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is type of girl.

But sometimes before I know it, my words sound far sterner than I had intended and I've hurt someone's feelings with my words or tone.

This year, more than making a New Year's resolution, I consider it an opportunity. 

And an invitation.

To believe that the God who makes all things new every single season when the flowers bloom in the spring, and who paints the sky with a sunrise every single morning, can do a new work in me, too.

He calls to us. He pursues us. He comes near to us.

Here in this Advent season where we wait to celebrate anew that moment when God took on human form to give us the hope of a new life. It's our gift to receive.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! - 2 Cor. 5:17

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power. - 2 Thess. 1:11

This is the beautiful, extraordinary hope I hold as I stand on the brink of a new year.

Eventually some semblance of peace was restored to my sister’s living room as the football game clock ticked down. 

{The Steelers won, by the way.}

Dash the Dog was napping, the kids were now happily hanging ornaments, and the train was smoothly running on the track underneath the tree. 

My brother-in-law turned to me and said, “I’m not really sure why you don’t come hang out with us more often.” 

I'm pretty sure he was being sarcastic.

And I almost rolled my eyes.

I'm having coffee with my friends at Holley Gerth's place at Coffee for your Heart. Join me there for more posts from my blogger friends!