Reflection

As I took down my Christmas decorations last week, happy that I thought to take a picture of the ornament box before putting them up so I could return them to their correct positions when done (it’s the little things you know), I found myself in reflection of the year past.

The beginning of a new year usually encourages thoughts of making resolutions and an “Out with the Old, In with the New” mentality. I thought, Lord knows I surely need to eat less and exercise more, read more and watch TV less… and, while I am not opposed to some of this thinking, I tend not to make resolutions and my reflection yearned to delve deeper in to what this could look like for me.  I found definitions of ‘resolution’ to include the act or process of resolving; the act of finding an answer to a conflict or problem.  I couldn’t quite get my head around this, so it compelled my reflection further.

My reflection lead me to a place at the beginning of 2015 where challenges and trials of divorce, displacement, and financial woes outweighed most successes or peace having, so I quickly manipulated the direction of my reflection to the most glorious moment of the year, the birth of my first Granddaughter, Brielle! I recalled in sequence the myriad of visits and precious moments that comprised the rest of the year and I found myself engulfed in joyous reflection of newly created memories.

In and between, my reflection dabbled in occurrences between Brielle visits and I was brought to vivid clarity of just how far the Lord had brought me. My reflection revealed good health, returning to my home, (some) financial recovery and most importantly, I overcame iniquities that on the outset kept me from fully receiving all that God intended me.  I immediately thanked God for His Grace, for His patience with me, which I conceded to be all that I could attribute this turn of events.  So, my reflection redirected again with more hope and fervor in how to maintain the momentum of more favorable outcomes.

Finally, I RESOLVED to ask, “What’s Your direction for me, Lord?” Of course, through self-examination and surrendering, I was led to the verse in 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” I chuckled at first because this verse has always reminded me of a caterpillar in a cocoon turning into a butterfly…then realization hit me.  In summation, my reference was reflection of my year!

Surely this new creation still does need to rid herself of old and more readily receive and warmly embrace the new, but there also is a place whereby she’s good to continue trusting and doing that which is in Christ! So there was my reflection, all wrapped up like my Christmas decorations and I was able to exhale, reflection sated.

Mary Montoya