The start of a new year

Many people put lots of emphasis on thebeginning of a new year. Many people make New Year’s resolutions, new goals,new diets, new friends, and try to start a new life. For me, this is a goodopportunity to take time to reflect on the past life and to dream about theupcoming year.

                Thispast year brought many unexpected changes in my life. God brought me down toPeru. The student missionaries and the people down here have changed my life aswell. They all have taught me so very much. I hope and pray that my life willnever be the same. This year, 2010, will bring lots of changes for me as well.I’ll be moving back to the States. First of all, my close friend is gettingmarried this summer. Secondly, I will be leaving a lot of friends to attend anew university to further my education. They are many changes to look forwardto or to dread and worry about.

                WhenI start to worry about what is going to take place in the future I try to stopmyself and remember the Bible verse found in Matthew 6:34. It tells us not toworry about tomorrow, but to focus on today. Tomorrow will come whether we likeit or not.

                Ibelieve as Christians it’s important for us to focus on the moment, to live ineach moment, and to be content where we are in life.  If we always focus on the future we will neverbe content with the present, always thinking that “the grass is greener on theother side”.  We will never be contentand happy if we think that way.

A letter to the church in Philip

In the letter Paul sent to the church inPhilip he told them that he has learned to be content in every situation.(Phil. 4:11-13). No matter how rough life is or how much he’s looking forwardto change and the future, he is content with the now.

                Oneof my families has twin daughters, 6-years-old. They are some of the happiestgirls that I have ever met. They are always smiling and laughing…always! Eventhough they live a hard life at home without a father, no running water,sharing a bed at night, and not having lots of clothes to choose from, they arehappy and content. Yes, it could be because they don’t know of another life butthey are happy just the same.

                Wecan learn a lot from these two little girls. No matter the circumstances thatwe find ourselves in, what conditions we live in, we can do our best to behappy and content and to live in the moment. As the year is beginning we havenew opportunities to start to live in the moment. Cherish the people around us,spend time with these we love, make new friends, strengthen our relationshipwith Jesus, and learn to be content and happy no matter what this year maybring us.

Lauren Kelley

Project Nurse