A New Year

One of our Dad’s favorite poems that we heard him quote over and over again was Kathleen Wheeler’s “A New Leaf.” Dad would often say when approaching a New Year that we are blessed to live in the land of beginning again.

 

He came to my desk with a quivering lip.

The lesson was done.

“Dear teacher, I want a new page,” he said,

I have spoiled this one.”

I took the old page, torn and blotted,

And gave him a new one, all unspotted,

And into his sad eyes smiled:

“Do better now, my child.”

I came to God’s throne with a trembling heart.

The year’s work was done.

“Dear Father, I want a new life,” I said,

“I have spoiled this one.”

He took my old life, torn and blotted,

And gave me a new one, all unspotted,

And into my sad heart smiled:

“Do better now, my child.”

 

It is probably true of all of us that we have had disappointments in the past year, and that we have at time disappointed those around us. While a New Year doesn’t really change our life, it does provide us an opportunity to consider where we are in our life.

 

It provides us an opportunity to consider beginning again, starting over, correcting wrongs, mending broken relationships, and recommitting our life to the proclamation of God’s Word.

 

Let’s make this New Year be more than a time to go on a diet, start exercising, and getting our finances in order. All of these are good goals, but let’s also consider being kinder to those around us, treating even our enemies with love, and making sure that we keep working on being all that God wants us to be. 

 

May God bless you richly in your work for Him in the New Year!

TJIComment