Past Reflections/Resolutions
As I navigate through the holiday season into the New Year, I look back at my memories and resolutions. I take hold of the moment to reflect on my past. Considering the past drives me into the present. Our future is not ours. Only today is what God has graciously given us and how we use it for good.
During our Thanksgiving holiday, we think about what we are thankful for in the past year. At Christmas we sing and rejoice in celebrating the birth of Christ. We seek to have a spirit of thanksgiving, of Christmas love and kindness all year round.
As a child I read, “Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Clause.” A story about an eight-year old girl who wrote a letter to the newspaper. She asked if Santa Claus was real. The story intrigues me, even now as an adult. The editor did not try to explain away the how or why about a funny little fat man in a red suit—or how he “magically” appeared in homes to leave gifts for good children. He explained the story of Christmas as giving not receiving. Being a neighbor celebrating Christ in every aspect of our lives not just one day a year—but all year long.
Resolutions-Christ Like Goodness
In nostalgic moments—my mind recalls past years’ resolutions. I have thought about happy, sad, even silly moments that made me want to do better. I wanted to know that I left an indelible mark of Christ like goodness in somebody’s life.
In the past year, I have reflected on moments of great happiness, sadness and tragedies. I tried to make sense of how these would affect my life and others. How to turn these moments into opportunities. How to enlighten a life and share a Christ-like moment.
Being the Resolution!
When bad things happen to me, I ask “Why me?” I don’t have the answers. Through God’s grace I will continue to grow and rise above my own healing to be a moment in someone’s life. That they one day may rejoice in Christ’s love with thanksgiving. I have been given the opportunity to share God’s message to someone who had experienced life altering tragedies. Praise God for this opportunity.
To conclude: It is not about making resolutions. It is about being the resolution. Living our our life in a Christ-like manner for all who will cross our paths. Happy New Year.
Cynthia Beckwith Jan 2026
