A Gentle 2019 Ahead

For years I have done something lovely for myself each New Years...in place of the traditional resolutions.  I like to choose a theme for my year; a scripture or inspirational reading; and a song.

I'm really getting ahead of myself here....but find myself wanting to move on to my new theme for 2019. It will be from the book of Philippians. Wayne (deceased husband) is just so present with me lately. I know he walks parallel to me all the time anyway...we're just in different realms of consciousness...his realm, lots better than mine. But this is the passage he asked me to read over and over again as he was in transplant surgery and I was waiting for word of whether he survived it. It took 9 hours of surgery and about 11 total before I saw him. The passage is so powerful that I read it a few times, earlier we had read it together a few times, and I actually fell asleep for several hours of his surgery. There was complete peace.

Philippians 4:4-7

"4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Interesting to me, his interest in this passage all the time...especially the words "Let your gentleness be evident to all." This was something he sort of expected of me regularly. Not many men would have an interest in their wife's character or spiritual traits like that. It was something I always loved about him. He cared about how i was understood by others. Women always feel this way about husbands. But blessed is the woman whose husband cares in this way.

So, my 2019 theme is making gentleness evident in my life and finding the power in it. My song for the year is, "Spirit of Gentleness." Scripture is Philippians 4:4-7.

Being a gentle person really is a wonderful way to live.  It can be observed that others around the gentle person become sponges...everybody just soaks it up.  Contentiousness is highly overrated and far too common to be special...it is ordinary.  Who wants to be ordinary, when special is available?!

I challenge you to join me in choosing somethng to live up to this coming New Year...something of more substance than losing 20 pounds, or becoming patient, or paint the house.  Give yourself a lovely gift...a gift of the heart and mind -- devoted to building you up and bringing a sense of inward peace.

It will ooze out of you onto all around you...and then you'll become the blessing!

Happy New Year!