It’s no secret that last year was a tough year for us, in many ways. We waited with great anticipation for the new year to begin, hoping that it would be a better one.
Well, the first week hasn’t exactly met our lofty expectations of an idyllic new start. In fact it’s been more of the same old, same old. Out of nowhere I came down with a horrible cough the day after Christmas which is still hanging on, several clients have cancelled their appointments at the last minute this week, making money a bit tight, I was such a space cadet this morning that I forgot to put a mug under the coffee pot and started the day by depositing the first inch of coffee on the floor instead of in a cup (what a mess!); AND for some reason our furnace has suddenly decided that it only wants to heat the house to 62 degrees today. The service man can’t get here until tomorrow.
Seven days and it’s turning ugly already. At one point this morning I was ready to declare 2014 another “terrible, awful, no good year” but then I remembered something a very wise man told me just a few days ago. He said “keep on doing the right things and this is going to be a great year!”
So, is the right thing to give up? Is the right thing to grumble and mumble? Is the right thing to let a few transient circumstances steal my joy? Of course not!
I am reminded of something Michael Dye, the creator of the Genesis Process relapse prevention program, has often said: “the right thing is usually the hard thing.”
It’s hard to get off of the couch after a grueling day to exercise; it’s hard to walk away from that thing you just”gotta have;” it’s hard to pick yourself up after a slip or a dismal failure and turn back to what you know is right; it’s hard to run to God and others instead of just hunkering down and having a grand ole pity party when things aren’t going well.
The truth is, it’s a fallen world so “bad” things do happen. The enemy wants to destroy us, so “bad” things do happen. We are sometimes weak and willful, so “bad” things do happen. But if we keep focusing on doing the right things, in spite of it all, we WILL have victory. And that’s going to make it a VERY good year!
“To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”—Proverbs 21:3
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