Success

Onward, forward into a new day, a new year. I suppose we naturally assess our lives when a moment of change approaches, and traditionally do so when we switch out the calendar on the wall. It's easy to say, "I'll change this! " and make a grand resolution.

I'm not too good at keeping resolutions, though. They take self-discipline, and my main resolution in life is to develop more of that so I can make more resolutions that I'll keep.

Yet, I can't leave it. My life is there to assess, and so much needs to change. I'm confident of only one thing this year. It's a good thing I have Christ or there would be nothing worthwhile to look back on.

We just watched David's favorite Christmas movie, "It's a Wonderful Life". It's such a true story, and that's why it's a classic. And so? My goal is to be a success.

I want to be a success like Aunt Mabel, who has given her whole life in serving God and giving generously to anyone she can. I want to be a success like all my Grandparents, who live for Christ and have reached so many people with love and compassion as a result. Their lives have Christ's gospel written all over them.

I want to be like my parents, amazingly talented people who can do so many things that could have made them money, but they do it all for free and give of their time and talents over and over for the glory of God. I want to be like my brother, who is a natural pilot who could easily make it as a pilot anywhere, but chose to go learn a foreign language and learn to live in another culture so he can support missionaries by transporting them and their belongings where God has placed them.

I have so much that doesn't really matter, and it's so easy to focus on getting more. But I have children and a husband to serve, and friends and neighbors before whom I'm responsible to transport God's love, character and mission.

How much can I give up of myself this year? How much more will erode away before the onslaught of Christ's character? How much of a success will I be? I hope a big one, because God's glory is worth losing everything, no matter how important I think it may be, and no matter how I may weep with desire for it.

There is a Pearl of great price. It is in my hands. May I never let go for lesser things!