We get excited about new years and new decades. The promise of unlimited possibilities, goals and dreams realized. But the day to day basis? We bash it as boring. We don’t want to get up in the morning for work and get tired of the mundane of taking care of homes and grocery shopping and cleaning our toilets.
Somehow in the game of big goals, we forget about the intentionality required in our little choices.
That putting away one shirt at a time helps avoid a messy pile of clothes strewn on the guestroom bed.
That washing dishes after one meal avoids dishes breaking later because we tried to pile too many clean ones on the drying towel.
That less social media leads to more journaling and creativity.
That choosing a healthy snack one time starts to build awareness and habits to healthier eating.
That a one mile run opens our lungs and minds and gives us courage to keep going.
That a hard and earnest conversation leads to open and vulnerable communication in our relationships.
That being silly and taking time to goof around with loved ones de-stresses our body more than most things can.
That an evening set aside to attend a real estate meet-up or a seminar can lead to people, networks, and ideas.
A new year is great. Maybe we successfully smashed our goals we set out. Maybe last year totally crushed our souls and we hope to never face another year like it.
One of my favorite verse sets is Lamentations 3:22-23, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Why? Because it is a promise that the Lord’s love for us never ceases and his mercies never come to an end. It is a promise for a fresh start every morning and that the Lord’s supply never runs out.
So today and every single day that we live, let’s choose intentionality.
Let’s practice learning discipline in the mundane such as washing dishes and celebration of small moments like sunshine on our faces. Let’s love our people well and take the time to have hard, growing conversations with each other. Let’s learn how to laugh at ourselves and to take chances. Let’s be intentional about talking to others and learning more about lives. Let’s read books that draw us into stories and that challenge our mindsets and perceptions. Let’s be kind to people in lines at the store and driving on the road and wherever we go – embracing the privilege to be a joy carrier. Let’s say “yes!” to stumbled upon adventures in a day like jumping a dead battery for someone or buying coffee for the person behind us. Let’s become friends with people who have completely different perceptions and politics and religions and experiences than us.
It’s not really about sides – successful or unsuccessful; rich or poor; city or country; Republican or Democrat; boring or exciting; white or brown; or any other divisive thing one can think up. It’s about the intentionality to cross the lines and shake hands and expand perceptions and be kind.
Here’s to a new day full of potential to carry joy and kindness and hope; full of opportunities to learn and grow; full of the ability to feel emotions – sadness, anger, joy, contentment; full of gratitude for breath in our lungs and a mind to think and the mercy of new days and the steadfast love of the Lord!
Somehow in the game of big goals, we forget about the intentionality required in our little choices.
That putting away one shirt at a time helps avoid a messy pile of clothes strewn on the guestroom bed.
That washing dishes after one meal avoids dishes breaking later because we tried to pile too many clean ones on the drying towel.
That less social media leads to more journaling and creativity.
That choosing a healthy snack one time starts to build awareness and habits to healthier eating.
That a one mile run opens our lungs and minds and gives us courage to keep going.
That a hard and earnest conversation leads to open and vulnerable communication in our relationships.
That being silly and taking time to goof around with loved ones de-stresses our body more than most things can.
That an evening set aside to attend a real estate meet-up or a seminar can lead to people, networks, and ideas.
A new year is great. Maybe we successfully smashed our goals we set out. Maybe last year totally crushed our souls and we hope to never face another year like it.
One of my favorite verse sets is Lamentations 3:22-23, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Why? Because it is a promise that the Lord’s love for us never ceases and his mercies never come to an end. It is a promise for a fresh start every morning and that the Lord’s supply never runs out.
So today and every single day that we live, let’s choose intentionality.
Let’s practice learning discipline in the mundane such as washing dishes and celebration of small moments like sunshine on our faces. Let’s love our people well and take the time to have hard, growing conversations with each other. Let’s learn how to laugh at ourselves and to take chances. Let’s be intentional about talking to others and learning more about lives. Let’s read books that draw us into stories and that challenge our mindsets and perceptions. Let’s be kind to people in lines at the store and driving on the road and wherever we go – embracing the privilege to be a joy carrier. Let’s say “yes!” to stumbled upon adventures in a day like jumping a dead battery for someone or buying coffee for the person behind us. Let’s become friends with people who have completely different perceptions and politics and religions and experiences than us.
It’s not really about sides – successful or unsuccessful; rich or poor; city or country; Republican or Democrat; boring or exciting; white or brown; or any other divisive thing one can think up. It’s about the intentionality to cross the lines and shake hands and expand perceptions and be kind.
Here’s to a new day full of potential to carry joy and kindness and hope; full of opportunities to learn and grow; full of the ability to feel emotions – sadness, anger, joy, contentment; full of gratitude for breath in our lungs and a mind to think and the mercy of new days and the steadfast love of the Lord!
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