One of my least favorite things is New Year resolutions. “What do you need to change?” How depressing to come off a month-long holiday high, only to make a list of things you need to fix…most of which are just plain no fun! And to make matters worse, most of us fail miserably. So this year I decided to ask myself a different question.
At the END of this year as I look BACK on my life, what do I want to be able to say?
All our good intentions do not have to be cast aside. It’s wise to maintain a healthy weight, avoid addictive behaviors, pay off debts, do well in school, etc. BUT, at the end of the year, or even more importantly at the end of my life, what will matter most?
When I stand before the Lord, I doubt He will say, “I am so impressed! You passed up the cheeseburgers and bon bons, paid off most of your credit cards, and your sock drawer was impeccable!”
Ultimately I want to have no regrets. But what is my standard for that? No regrets about what specifically? Having wrestled with this question all week, I finally came up with what to me is – and will be – the most crucial. And knowing no better authority on what is truly important, I take my cues from what Jesus said.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind….And love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-38 NIV)
For me, no regrets means it is my desire to actually live out these two commands. All through the day. Every day. And at the end of the year, and the end of my life, I want to know that God truly has been my first love, not only in my thoughts but in my actions. And that I have been a channel of His love to all those around me, beginning at home.
I hope we can all encourage each other to continue to walk by faith, to cling to what matters ultimately, and to let go of what does not.
In the meantime, I’m going to go clean out my sock drawer. 🙂
