By Sami Yacoub
The end of a year and the start of a new one is a chance for us to pause and reflect on our lives; for we can look back to evaluate what we have accomplished, and what we have failed to accomplish. We also need to look forward, and think of how we can shape our lives in the new year. Looking both ways, we probably need to think differently than most do during the last days of every year; usually classified mostly into the following four approaches:
Some people deal with the new year with indifference… “What's the difference between yesterday and tomorrow?” For they are running in a viscous circle of activities; till the point when they are suddenly surprised that life has passed with no return, and the days have no value.
The second approach is the complete opposite... they are those who wait for this special occasion, and prepare a lot for the celebrations with ways that do not fit the dignity of the occasion, or even reflect what they believe in. For them also, time does not mean anything; they believe that “life is to eat and drink for tomorrow we shall die!”
The third type is those who indulge during this occasion in church activities and worship, in great passion, without stopping once to think about their promises during that same time in the previous year, and whether or not they were able to live them out. And here they are, once again, entering into the new year with enthusiastic pledges, and only God knows how much time will pass before they are forgotten, and simply return to their old habits.
The last type are those who are touched by the occasion with feelings of sadness, perhaps because of sufferings that they had faced during the past year, or because of some feelings of guilt due to lack of achievement, or helplessness in facing what is to come.
I admit that over the years, which have slightly exceeded fifty, I have been fluctuating between these four approaches. In many instances, I did not give myself a chance to stop and take a breath and make use of this chance to renew my inner energy both morally and spiritually. I have now reached the point of being very convinced that this New Year occasion is the best time to look inside myself, and to participate with my family in discussions about what I saw when I looked back, and what I am eager to see when I look forward! I am convinced that it is fine to attend church in the evening of New Year's Eve to pray, but I am not one of the supporters of attending church till after midnight. For I believe that there has to be some family time where we unite in prayer, thanking God, and renewing promises to each other; to continue as husband and wife, and to bear the responsibility of not shaming our children by anything that we do. We promise to continue supporting our children with all our effort, in order for them to be the people God wants them to be. So can we try to pause for a couple of hours on New Year's Eve to spend some time together with our children, in discussion and prayer, to enter the new year with a new spirit full of love, and encouragement?
One of the best things that I have shared with my sons in such occasions, and found very positive, is our discussion about these two questions:
- Can we thank God for failures, or for lost opportunities?
- What did we expect God to answer with “yes” through the past year, but His answer was “no”?
This was a unique opportunity for my wife and I to share with our sons what we thought we could not live without during our youth, and how we used to ask God warmly and sincerely, to the extent that we would have forced God to respond and give us what we asked – if we could. But the struggle ended with “no”! No wonder that now as we approach 2019, and look back, we are filled with gratitude that God has not given us all that we wished, and what we used to see as failure, turned into a source of blessing that overwhelms us today. How do you want to end this year? What do you want to do next year?
I recently read a quote which I really liked: “Nobody can go back in time to start a new beginning... but everybody can start today and work for a better ending!” (unknown author) If you made a pledge last year, or even wished, to fix your relationship with your spouse, or to practically express your love and acceptance to your children… If you had decided to deal with relatives or colleagues in a way that shows your respect for them as they are, without trying to change them to be like you… If you had promised to be less angry, or to stop a habit that has affected your health and destroyed your relationships... Whatever your promises, and if you find that as you look back, you haven't done them, do not give up or feel depressed, for many people around the world make the same promises on New Year's Eve, but their enthusiasm to follow through with what they promised does not go beyond the 2nd of January! I am one of those struggling with this same problem!
I returned as usual to the Word of God, and found in the words of the Prophet Jeremiah “...for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning”(Lamentations 3:22, 23), a confirmation that God is willing to forgive us every morning; for his faithfulness is unlimited. Even when we fail to commit to what we have promised, He still forgives us, and with great patience accepts our repentance when we confess our sins and weaknesses. God does not go back on the promises that He gave us in Jesus Christ, and he never forgets or denies a promise He has given us in His word. He was truly faithful with our fathers and grandfathers, and He will continue to be so with our children and grandchildren, from generation to generation and forever.
Let’s meditate together as a family on God's mercy, grace, and forgiveness, and let’s ask Him to enlighten our limited minds with the insight of the Holy Spirit in order to realize that His mercy is much greater than we can ever imagine, and to enter into the new year with a new spirit; a spirit that does not ask for revenge but for forgiveness, one that doesn't pray for destruction of the other, but to be merged with the irresistible love of Christ. God has chosen love to redeem the world; for He has sent His only Son to be born in Bethlehem, and to suffer on the Cross for our sins, and to die to save those who believe in Him, and rise from the dead to give them a better life on earth, and an eternal life when we cross the river of this world.
Until we meet next year…
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