Pride Before The Fall

It's Monday morning, Day 5 of a Brand-New Year... So far, so good.

The Christmas decorations came down yesterday; then, moved up to the attic for an 11-month hibernation, ahhh. I love my Christmas stuff, but it feels wonderful to have it all perfectly packed away and put to bed. Early this morning, I sat on the living room sofa, with a mug of hot coffee and thought, “Wow, the house looks good! I am going to stay organized, that’s my #1 resolution! And it won’t even be difficult, because I have a plan and I’m stickin' with it. I can do this, oh yes, I CAN."

I glanced out the front window and pridefully noted that many neighbors still had Christmas lights up. Not me, I thought smugly, my new middle initial is “O” for “Organized-woman!” Then, I swung open the front door to get the newspaper and, to my horror, I saw … my Christmas wreath… attached to the flip side of the door. Oh well, just 1 oversight, no big deal.

I went to the kitchen to try to find a working pen so I could make a master list of things to do around the house. When I opened the junk drawer I saw another appalling sight... the missing green, sparkly jumbo roll of Christmas ribbon. Well, that was sure a dumb “safe-keeping place.” I remembered putting it in there for “easy accessibility” and then I guess I forgot where I put it. Well, no more of that! This year I am going to have assigned seating for everything, no random junk, just one logical, alphabetical-ordered, happy home. Yikes, where did I put the scotch tape? Oh no, I may have packed it away with the Christmas wrapping paper?

Wait! Cancel those negative thoughts and stop eyeballing those stale Christmas cookies! Throw those Christmas carbs away right now! O.k., phew, deep breaths, back in control. I decide to have a healthy hard-boiled egg instead. I will NOT use food for comfort in 2009. I am a grown-up person now, making grown-up choices. Yikes, the egg I proceed to crack, turns out not to be hard-boiled. Suddenly, gooey yellow yolk spreads out across the floor. That’s o.k., no problem-o, just whistle while you work, and clean it up. As I open the drawer, the hand towels with the furry reindeer faces smile back... mocking me….something else I forgot to pack up! I'm tempted to just throw them in the trash can.

I decide to stack all the Christmas stragglers in the corner of the room, after all, I may come across more. So much for a “place for everything, everything in its place!” What is the matter with me, for heaven's sake? YES, for heaven's sake, what are you doing girlfriend?

STOP RIGHT NOW AND PRAY! WHY ARE YOU RESISTING? ASK GOD FOR HELP, YOU OBVIOUSLY NEED IT!

Immediately, the thought I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me comes to mind. Christ offers me supernatural help for all things, (even forgotten Christmas decorations.) I think this is what Jesus really wants me to learn this year. I laugh as I see the pile of Christmas orphans amassed in the corner, what a visual! As I open God's Word, 1 Thessalonians speaks to my heart: 5:16 “Be joyful always; 17 Pray continually; 18 Give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God’s Will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Jesus, Thank you for this disastrous morning. I confess both my pride and my insecurity.
I also confess to coveting my neighbor Sue Fitz's organizational abilities and my neighbor Maureen's dedication to working out. Let this be the year that I call on Your Name for everything. Help me become the person You designed me to be. Restore my JOY and make me a PRAYING, THANKS-in-all-things, person. How foolish of me to think that I'll keep resolutions that are not rooted in You.
My 2009 Resolution? I resolve to want nothing but Your Will for me, whatever that may be, re-mind me again and again. All things through You, nothing good apart from You. Amen