New Year's Goal

Happy New Year! :)

With the beginning of the year, I’ve been thinking about New Year’s Resolutions and the importance of goals in our lives. While I’ve not been one to make “resolutions” like giving up caffeine or exercising five days a week, it is important for me to look at where I want to be in a year and set myself on a path to achieve those goals. If I don’t set goals, then I’ll most likely never actively change or grow from where I am today.

For me this year, goals are an issue of stewardship. God has given me but a few days on this earth and I want my life to be spent bringing glory to his name, not drawing attention to myself. When my goals focus on myself (how great I’ll look after losing these last few “Lukas pounds,” or how cool I’ll be if I run a half marathon), I’ll never be good enough. I will always have someone else with whom to compare myself. My goals don’t necessarily change, but my attitude does: I want to eat healthfully, not because I want to look good, but because my body has been given to me by God as a “resource” and I don’t want to squander what he’s given. I do want to run a half marathon, not because it’s cool, but because I want to be building healthy exercise habits that Luke can one day pattern.

And, these aren’t goals I can achieve on my own determinations. Whether I am able to accomplish what I’ve set before me is based on the Holy Spirit’s power at work in my life. If the focus is on me, I’d probably quit by mid-April. When I focus on glorifying him, I’m in it for the long haul.

For the first time, my New Year’s goals aren’t about me or results or an “end;” they’re about who God has called me to be as a wife, mom, friend and employee. And as a child of His. They’re about bringing glory to his name.

And, for good measure, I two photos of my favorite Lukie ;)

Isn't he a adorable?!? :)