Monday, December 30, 2013

New Year's Resolutions

I thought that it was fitting that I write a blog about New Year's Resolutions. I have never been good at setting them, and when I actually do I haven't ever been good at following through with them. But recently I have discovered an interesting correlation between New Years and Christmas.

So first off, what's the point of New Year's Resolutions? Well, to change, to become a better person. I found this interesting, because as missionaries, we are always thinking about the Gospel. So in religious terms, positive change equals repentance. Repentence is literally a change in mind, a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world. If we add it all up then that means that New Year's Resolutions are a way for us to repent. So I thought it is great that New Year's is a week after Christmas.

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(This painting was done by
my Great Grandmother
Minerva Teichert)
If you go back and read my last blog, titled "The Greatest Gift of All" you can read my opinion about the meaning of Christ's life and how we can apply it in our own.  I think that the timing of these two holidays is not a coincedence. With the Christmas spirit that everyone seems to possess at this time of year, it appears that most people are looking to set resolutions that will help bring them closer to Christ. If that is your circumstance,  then I invite you to seek what the Lord would have you do in order to come closer to Him. I know that this post might not get to everyone who reads it before the new year, but it's not too late to turn to God. Repentence is real, let it change your life, and if you slip on one of your resolutions, or all of them, get up and try again. This life is a great time for us to learn and grow, and we WILL make mistakes, but that is where we gain our knowledge. Happy New Year's everyone!

2 comments:

  1. I agree. It is sometimes hard to stick with goals. I found that if I write them down and keep them in a place where I see them at least once a week, then I do better. I feel like that's a great thing about repentance. We should try to remember always to repent and then once a week, we have a chance to see it as we partake of the sacrament. I love repentance! Happy New Year!!

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  2. There have been so many times when I thought I couldn't change, when it was too hard, or I stubbornly, selfishly held on to the silly things I do that I defined as "me." Then I'd always be reminded of the lyrics "You can change! You'll become a butterfly!" God has such a great vision of our potential! We are eternal and divine sons and daughters of God and we can't reach this future unless we rely on the holy merits of Christ and through Him are changed. We can't reach our divine potential without changing to become like Christ - and He lives to help us.

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