New Year – Teresa K. Lasher

“And we are His portion and He is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If His grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking
And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest

I don’t have time to maintain these regrets
When I think about the way
Oh, how He loves us, oh
Oh, how He loves us, how He loves all …” — How He Loves Us, by David Crowder band

I recently listened to this song several times. I still have a hard time comprehending or beginning to understand the depth and immensity of God’s love. For me. For you. For humankind … knowing we often fail to show our love toward God. I say and do things I know displeases and makes him sad.

Grace. Forgiveness. Love. All these characteristics are clearly evident in God. I claim this New Year — 2013 — to be a year of fresh starts. How about you?

Dear God, I chose to be more aware of your love for me, my family and friends. I chose to recognize daily and even minute-by-minute blessings you freely give. I chose to learn more of you in your love letter, the Bible. I ask for your strength to accomplish these activities. Without you, I can do nothing. Amen.

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Happy New Year! You might be saying to yourself — what’s up with her? Yesterday was the start of the New Year, so why is she wishing us a Happy New Year on January 2. That’s a valid question. And here’s my answer: I’ve been down and mostly horizontal since Friday afternoon. Sore throat, runny nose, cough, and all-over achiness invaded my body four days ago.

While I slept away a good part of Saturday, Baby Jesus, Mother Mary, Joseph, three wise guys and entourage left our outdoor nativity scene and found their way to our attic above the garage. Along with them came Christmas lights on our tall pine tree, momma bear and two baby bears, lighted tree on our deck and all the exterior Christmas lights. My husband decided since the weather was sunny and 40 degrees that this was the time for all to go into hibernation. (I did manage to rally around long enough to help boost them up the attic steps; then promptly hit the sofa afterwards.) Now Michigan is blanketed with whiteness and several inches of our first snowfall.

While I was sleeping, I missed the Times Square ball drop, the first church service of the New Year, the Lions lose, and all those after- Christmas bargains. The last time I stepped foot outdoors was on Thursday morning when my granddaughter from Minnesota and I went on a secret mission to Meijer’s for donuts. They’ve since stopped in Illinois and are now back home in Minnesota.

I’m really trying to be optimistic about the New Year and hoping the first few days are not an indication as to what’s in store for 2012. I don’t understand why my body isn’t working as I feel it should be, but this I do know: God operates on a completely different schedule than I do. Apparently, he felt I needed the rest.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” – Isaiah 55:8-9

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