After a conversation with a friend yesterday, I began thinking about personal resolutions for the new year. How does one not set themselves up for failure? Do you set simple or a realistic goal to achieve to in the coming year? Each new year brings a clean sheet of paper in a 365 page novel of one’s life and most people strive to live an abundant life, hopefully become a blessing to others and the generic wish for others to have health, love and peace.
My youngest and I just finished reading a book set in the early 1900’s, where the mother of the main character recorded all her children’s resolutions in the family bible and then read them aloud during their New Year’s Eve celebrations. I found this a interesting idea for families to track their goals for the year.
In year’s past, our family has adopted a “Happiness Jar” and jotted down things that have brought us joy or happiness daily. A task so simple, but made you analyze a bad day just for the smallest glimmer of joy that was contained within it. Then on New Year's Eve, they are read aloud and you reflect on the past year. It makes you realize that your bad days aren’t even comparable to those who have it worse off than you. It’s crazy that something as so simple, could have a profound impact on one’s life.
With the advent of social media, people are once again posting their top nine or best nine photos of the year selected by followers. It might not even be one of your top nine memories contained within that grid. It just happens to be a picture that most people happened to ‘like’ at one given time. I think back on what a whirlwind 2018 has been for our family. We stepped outside our comfort zone in so many ways. We bought a house, became more involved in our church and spent more time making memories together as a family. What surprised me the most its that some of these things didn't even show up on my top nine or could tell a fraction of 2018’s story. So, I ended up choosing my own top nine; Nine pictures that meant more to me, than the 2.2K "likes"I had received this past year. 
There are certain things that I’d like to personally strive towards in 2019, but the main thing that keeps circling my thoughts is not let other’s steal my joy. Daily, I see bickering and just plain nastiness towards one another, whether it’s in a public setting or from keyboard warriors on social media. This tends to get me down and makes my heart hurt. We need to heed Paul’s words from Colossians and clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and most of all, love.
Be the joy in 2019.
{Colossians 3:12-17}
