Tracy Davidson

New Year’s Resolution:

Two things I know about my news years resolutions. #1 They can’t be so big, so grand. So hard that I’m just setting myself up for failure. And #2 My first resolution always involves improving my relationship with God. It’s my first because in all ways, everything else flows from that relationship.

So, how to proceed. I know I need to be constantly reminded that God is in my life and that He is always faithful. It’s me who, bombarded by all kinds of things, turns away. So what is doable? Little habits that can keep my focus on Him and what He wants for my life.

1. I love to begin my day in prayer, so to help with that I’ve signed up at klove.com to have an “encouraging word”/scripture emailed to me every morning. That will be my starting point for my morning prayer.

2. My next class toward my pastoral degree starts in a couple of weeks at Chestnut Hill College. And that automatically keeps me “in touch”.

3. I’ve also resolved to write in my spirituality journal every night. I want to be always mindful of how God is working in my life.

4. In years past I have resolved to try to see the face of God in every person I come across during my day. This year, I think I will try to be open to anyone experiencing darkness in hopes that God will work through me to help.

5. And one last resolution that I’m embarassed I even have to do. I attend a wonderful church, where people have been members for decades. Many of them know my name because of what I do for a living and I’m always too embarassed to ask them to remind me of their names or to ask someone else, “who are those people?”. I resolve this year to learn the names of all of these wonderful people who I worship with.

Now, how successful will I be at these? I hope very, because all of these things are do-able. But here’s the great thing: when I miss a day of journaling, or if I sleep past my prayer time in the morning, while I’ll be disappointed, I won’t throw out the resolution. I won’t say, “well, I failed, better luck next year.” No, I’ll say God is always faithful in His love for me and I’ll try again *tomorrow*. I am far from perfect and quite honestly have had a year of struggling, but I will always try again. And I hope when I meet my maker face-to-face.. He’ll say… “I know you. Sure, you fell down, but you kept getting back up.”