The Dawn of 2021: Every Moment Counts

Cynthia L. Eppley 01/03/2021

New Beginnings?

It is the third day of 2021. But this isn’t just any year.
This is the end of 2020.
We all anticipated it so much didn’t we?
We are weary of Covid, Pandemics, illness, and death. We are all looking toward a new year and new beginnings.

New Year Resolutions

And then there is the hopeful New Year’s Resolution:
lose weight, drink less, exercise more, eat healthier, be more diligent in good things. We all have hopes and dreams in the New Year, don’t we?

But Wait….

The fact is, 2021 rose and shone much the same way as any other day in 2020. Sure, there were fireworks and celebrations.
Banging pots and pans into a dented wreak.
And the cynic within might even agree with the Teacher:

Ecclesiastes 2:11

“Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”

What is Left?

The world keeps spinning round, doesn’t it?
Hindsight might be 2020, but what does the year before us hold? And how do we manage it?

Going into the New Year

We manage it by carefully noting the daily moments more than the long term resolutions. Giving thanks for life itself, and every breath as a gift.
The daily days may be tiring, but they are full of purpose and potential and pleasure.

We rejoice at the birth of beautiful new babies.

A dear friend notes that 1 year ago today her mother was taken unexpectedly. The pain of loss is still fresh and raw. The cost of love runs deep.

Yet another is taken by Covid.

Difficulties and Pleasures

St. Augustine said, “The very pleasures of human life men acquire by difficulties.”

“There are times when the entire arrangement of our existence is disrupted and we long then for just one ordinary day – seeing our ordinary life as greatly desirable, even wonderful, in the light of the terrible disruption that has taken place.
Difficulty opens our eyes to pleasures we had taken for granted.” ~Elisabeth Elliot, Keep a Quiet Heart

Haven’t we all longed for just one ordinary day?

Clarity

It is in such difficult moments that the clarity of life comes full circle and full center.
In these times we take off the glasses of the “Year to Come” and instead center in on the blessings and realities of each day.

Lamentations 3: 22-24 “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for him.”

10,000 Little Moments

Paul Tripp hit on a truth for our New Year:

”You see, the character of a life is not set in two or three dramatic moments, but in 10,000 little moments. The character that was formed in those little moments is what shapes how you respond to the big moments of life.”
Paul Tripp Jan 1, 2014

Live Love Now

Rachel Macy Stafford is the author of Live Love Now, and blogger of Hands Free Mama: Letting Go, to grasp what really matters.
She speaks to living in the daily days and little moments: “Christy passed away on September 1, 2012. The following pledge is how I will live out my days here on earth—inspired by Christy, the remarkable one whose life was the epitome of grasping what really matters.
In your honor, I will stop prefacing sentences with “when I lose 5 pounds” and “when things slow down.” In your honor, I will live life now, not “someday.”
In your honor, I will say, “I am sorry.” Even when it’s difficult to say. Even when I think the other person should say it first.
In your honor, I will bless the butterfly that crosses my path. For you taught me everyday miracles are abundant if we just open our eyes and look for them.
In your honor, I will not let life pass me by.
Rachel Macy Stafford© “Remembering Sunscreen & Butterflies” http://www.handsfreemama.com/…/remembering-sunscreen…/

To Everything, Turn, Turn, Turn…

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1
There is a time for every purpose. There are seasons in life.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 There is a purpose to every day. Every day is a gift. Every breath is a gift.

The Conclusion of the Matter…

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
Ecclesiastes 12:13

(Please go to Youtube to access: Chris Rice: “Life Means So Much” with lyrics.)

Teach us to number our days. Teach us to make the days count. Lead us in better ways.
Life means so much.
(Chris Rice, Life means so much.)

Our Conclusion

Live Intentionally. One moment at a time. Live with Purpose.
Fear God. Love well.
Make every day count.