New
year's resolutions
Lord,
it’s been another long year full of struggles, problems, anxieties,
pain and other disappointing things in my life. It has also been a
year with many moments of joy, sharing, achievements and closeness to
you.
It
seems to me that there have been more bad things than good, more
sorrow than joy, more restlessness than peace, more material concerns
than spiritual ones.
I
heard the inspiration of your voice in my heart as I began this past
year, asking me to change, and I, with renewed enthusiasm made
resolutions to improve myself in many areas of my life. I was totally
determined to change and to challenge myself to be a better person.
I
am trying to be honest with myself and I realize that the more I want
to be perfect, the more I find fault in me. I have tried to be
virtuous but I see that much is lacking, I have tried to be generous
but I realize that I will never reach my goals.
One
thing is for sure. You have been the greatest thing that happened to
my life. Since I decided to live for you, I have noticed that you
somehow take care of me and I experience your blessing in all my
activities.
Therefore
these are my resolutions for the New Year: first of all to continue to
live for you, through you with you and in you. I will not let my
happiness be conditioned by external things or situations but by your
divine will; I will not let peace be taken away from my heart since
that is the gift you have given me. I will be more concerned about
seeking the Kingdom of Heaven first, since you have promised to give
us everything else as well.
I
will endeavor to start my day with you, to live every minute for you,
to rejoice in my work and all other activities because I invite you to
be with me every moment. And at the end of each day I will praise you
for having given me joy once more, for accepting me as I am; weak in
the flesh but strong in your spirit, fragile in my humanity but very
determined to find the strength of your presence, perhaps awkward in
my personal achievements but extremely happy in living by your will.
I
fervently resolve to open my heart to you, to present all my problems
to you and to wait until you inspire me on what to do or you resolve
my problems. I will depend more on you than on myself, I will try to
see things the way you see them, I will love with your heart, see with
your eyes, hear only your word and work for you.
I
desire to become an instrument of your will, to be filled with you in
such way that along with Saint Paul I may one day say: It is no longer
I who lives but Christ who lives in me.
Joseph
of Jesus and Mary
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