I never do this, but after an especially brutal couple of weeks, I found myself thumbing through former posts, looking for inspiration. I couldn’t believe what I found. In fact, it was so significant (to me) I gave a sharp intake of breath.
It’s not that my first post of 2018 was so brilliant, but it spoke to my heart, especially at the end. Here it is:
Note to self: This is the first Thursday of 2018. Make it count.
Hello, Thursday Morning friends! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season. In a way, it’s difficult to believe the season is already behind us. Did your holidays rush past like a whirlwind, or drag by, like a tired sloth?
I hope the former is true, because that means you enjoyed lots of activity. Now, on to the business at hand.
I often resolve to do what’s right, but that resolve tends to dissolve a couple of months into the year. So, this year, I need to pay more attention to the small things. Toward the end of 2017, I became overwhelmed by all the to-do’s on my list. Too late, I realized I’d said “yes” too many times. My to-do list became a ball and chain.
I was so overwhelmed and discouraged, I even shelved my latest work-in-progress. Sound familiar? Why do we do this to ourselves?
Thankfully, all the kinks worked out. As soon as I set that WIP aside, the inspiration returned, and I was able to get back to it and finish before the end of the year–with hours to spare. 🙂
How do I avoid the traffic jam at the end of the year? It comes back to the paying attention. I need to be careful and prayerful about the things I say “yes” to. I need to think them through. I don’t want to be too hesitant, and miss out on things, but which ones are those? How do I determine what will end up on my list?
So my New Year’s resolution is to be determined. That sounds funny, as though I’m not sure what my resolution is, and I’m putting off the choice of one–TBD. That’s not the case at all. I aim to be more determined in my efforts this year. I want to accomplish the things I set out to do, whether that is taking care of my health, stretching myself intellectually, or spending more time with my loved ones. I’d love to do a bit of travel this year. Study the Bible, and share the love of Jesus more. Research a new book, and make lots of new friends.
These are the things that count in life. I hope you’ll do a bit of soul-searching, examine your heart and life and come up with something similar. Set your mind on it, and don’t give up. Keep yourself accountable. Leave me a comment, if you like. Share your resolution, or your word for 2018. Share your blessings.
Make life count.
Back in 2019 – The reason for my sharp intake of breath? A few days ago, I attended my cousin’s funeral after he died very suddenly of a heart attack at barely 61 years old. A few days before he died, I’d received a Christmas card from him. He’d included his favorite phrase: Make Every Moment Count (MEMC).
Rick was a leader in life. He literally started at the bottom and ended at the top. He was a friend to everyone he met, a mentor to many, who loved his family with abandon and made a difference in the world. He will be missed. But, he made every moment count.
When I wrote this blog post last year, I wasn’t thinking about Rick and his favorite line. I hadn’t heard it in a while. So, when I came across it at this particular time in my life, it seemed almost prophetic. Now, I pass it on to you…again. It’s a message that bears repeating. Make every moment count. Make life count.
Betty Thomason Owens 