Change

A memory came rushing to me as I was sitting in church, upon hearing that word whisper in my mind.  I was sixteen years old again and sitting on my parents’ front porch listening to my record player and singing to the song “Hey Jude” by the Beatles.  The boy that I had met the previous day, introduced to me by a close friend, kept driving past my house.  He was helping my friends’ parents move and they lived down the road.  I recall running more than once inside the house to change my outfit, desperately wanting to impress him.  Even today, how many times do we worry about how we look, looking to impress someone, maybe even changing outfits multiple times, buying something new or standing in front of our floor length mirror, hoping for just the right look.  Although I never stopped wanting to impress my new boyfriend (that is still by my side today), as we got to know each other better, it was more important to our relationship on how we changed on the inside and developed the bond that we still thankfully share today.   Now that we’re starting a new year, 2024, how can you and I change from the inside out and look to impress the One that matters most?  How can I look a little closer at my habits, my choices, my inside appearance that many times I ignore and unfortunately accept.  It’s so easy to jump into the new year and nothing changes but intentions.  Okay, so we vow to pray more, eat healthier, exercise more (ugh!) and want to change for the better.   It’s not just a new year, it’s one day at a time.  My husband always says, when there is a huge project he’s tackling, “It’s like eating an elephant.  You can only do it one bite at a time.”  What one thing can you do to change, and grow in your relationship with God our Father?  I would love to hear from you and maybe we can all change a little at a time, together.  It may be a particular book you can share that you’ve read, a song that moves you, or a story that fills your heart.  Just remind yourself – it’s one step at a time.  Whatever day it is, that’s the day we should focus on.  For that one day – today – we can only pray for God’s intervention in creating a change – a clean heart in each one of us.    Next time, when you’re standing in front of the mirror, remember to stop and see the changes from the inside that God is leading you towards.   God and I can’t wait to hear your inspirations.

“See I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”  Isaiah 43:19