Happy New Year! Happy New Decade!
At the start of every year, I feel a sense of hopeful anticipation. What will the year hold? Will it be a season of joy and contentment? Will it be a season of trial and growth? I am blessed to have had my fair share of each type of season, and I have seen and felt the goodness of God in both.
As this new year dawns, I want to make sure to spend time reflecting on last year and preparing my heart for this fresh one. Most years I try to identify a word that I can use to focus myself when the busyness and routine of life starts to set in. I take the word and find related Scripture to memorize and books to read that will encourage me throughout the year as I seek to draw closer to the Lord. This year, I have chosen the word "slow." There probably won't be much Scripture with this particular word in it, but my focus for the year will be to slow down and find more time for rest and more time for those I care about.
Life seems to flash by at the speed of light, especially as I get older. As the saying goes, "the days are long, but the weeks and years are short." My goal this year is to not get into too much of a rush and to not overcommit. I want to focus on quality and quantity of time with the people I love...to spend a whole afternoon sipping coffee and talking with a friend, to take a long nap on the couch with my pups, to spend all day preparing a meal to savor with family.
And so, I'm starting this year by spending most of today slowly cooking the traditional Southern New Year's Day meal - pork roast and gravy, black-eyed peas, greens, rice, deviled eggs and crispy fried cornbread.
I hope your first day of 2020 is just what you need it to be to start the new year right!