Twelve years ago, as the end-of-year holidays came and went, once again faster than I always, each year desire, I penned the following, slightly edited post. The sentiment remains. It also remains a good reminder of wisdom for far more than me…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that no more is hung by the chimney with care \u2014 and the words \u201chark\u201d and \u201cgood tidings\u201d will patiently await another year before rejoining our frequented vernacular, I\u2019m wondering what\u2019s new\u2026 what\u2019s different\u2026 I mean if I truly believed that Christmas was the birth of the savior of the world or that each new year was a time to embrace all that’s new and good in the world, I think there\u2019d be something in the magnitude of that remembrance that would change me\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps it\u2019d be a new skip in my step during Monday\u2019s workday.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps I\u2019d hug my kids a little more tenderly and be more intentional in teaching them life’s greatest lessons.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps I\u2019d let bygones actually be bygones.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps I wouldn\u2019t be so quick to be offended by another.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps I\u2019d watch what I post.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps I\u2019d work a little harder on forgiving that one from whom I have long withheld forgiveness.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps I\u2019d seek more to understand than to be understood.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps I\u2019d realize that mercy always triumphs over judgment.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps I\u2019d realize that a game is still only a game.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps I would refrain from worshipping anything other than Him (\u2026that includes the idolization of any Grand Ole\u2019 Party, a golden calf, a sports team, and\/or any Presidential candidate\u2026).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps I would refrain from demonizing anything other than the demonic (\u2026that includes any Grand Ole\u2019 Party, sports team, or Presidential candidate\u2026).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps I would gain the humble confidence to tackle that destructive habit that has plagued me for years.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps I would surrender more challenges, recognizing that most things are out of my control.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And perhaps I would recognize that having things out of my control can be a very good thing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A few short years ago, I prayed for a healthy child\u2026 or at least one that I considered healthy. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n You know the prayer\u2026 \u201cand Lord, I don\u2019t really care if it\u2019s a boy or a girl\u2026 tall or short\u2026 All I ask is that the baby is healthy, has no defects or disabilities\u2026 I can handle everything else from there.’<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, God didn\u2019t answer my prayer the way I asked. My child was not healthy by contemporary medical standards. He ‘failed’ his genetic test. My guess is he will ‘fail’ a few more future, supposed, cultural tests. But he is a kid who doesn\u2019t allow all the crud of life to get in the way. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Where all the rest of us have trouble loving <\/em>all<\/em><\/strong> those around us \u2014 because we allow appearance, arrogance, political standing or <\/em>something<\/em><\/strong> to get in the way \u2014 young master Josh simply loves people where they\u2019re at. Right now. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Josh recognizes the value of others, and he desires to encourage, to day-brighten, and yes, to warmly converse. What I\u2019ve realized since is that Josh knows what it means to love \u2014 to love unconditionally \u2014 all around me \u2014 significantly better than me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Thank God most things are out of my control. Thank God He didn\u2019t answer that prayer the way it was prayed. Thank God, as songwriter Bruce Carroll wrote years ago, that ‘sometimes miracles hide.’<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And one more thank you\u2026 thank God we can… I can… always… all of us… if willing… can still be changed.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Twelve years ago, as the end-of-year holidays came and went, once again faster than I always, each year desire, I penned the following, slightly edited post. The sentiment remains. It also remains a good reminder of wisdom for far more than me… Now that no more is hung by the chimney with care \u2014 and … <\/p>\n