By Don Meyer<\/p>\n
CHICAGO, IL (January 1, 2006) – The New Year for many is a time to reflect on the past and ponder the future, often establishing any number of resolutions reflecting new choices to govern the way in which we intend to live our lives going forward.<\/p>\n
The ability to choose is one of the great gifts that God has given to each one of us and is something that is uniquely ours to keep in any circumstance, good or bad. I believe it is one of those characteristics associated with being created in the image of God \u2013 a powerful gift that can serve us well, depending on how we choose to use it.<\/p>\n
A great inspiration in my life is my mother, who will be 87 in January, a woman who by many medical estimates should not have survived the ravages of a serious medical condition she has endured for nearly half a century. She no longer has her vision and even the simple task of eating is no simple task for her.<\/p>\n
You wouldn’t have a clue about what she has endured over these decades if you were to have a conversation with her, however. You see, she has chosen to respond in a way that focuses on lifting the spirits of others, who she says struggle with far more serious issues in life than she does.<\/p>\n
That deliberate way of responding to life events has influenced me over the years, reflecting the simple truth that no matter what confronts us, we always retain the ability to choose how we will respond. I believe that is divinely intentional.<\/p>\n
So, no matter what awaits us this year, take heart in the knowledge that God has promised to walk with us through each and every circumstance. Remember, too, that when all else fails, we always retain the God-given ability to choose how we will respond.<\/p>\n
May God grant each one a blessed New Year.<\/p>\n