It is the last day. The last day of the year is December thirty first. The next is January first. That day will begin a new year. This one is well spent. It has had three hundred sixty five days to fill all it is. That which was to be done in this year either has been or will not be this year. My granddaughter (One of the premier joys in my life) reminds me there are still a few hours left. Some will be done with this year and moving on to the next chapter in their life. Some will be done with this life at the end of this year and be moving on to the next. Some did not make it through the full year. Their time stopped, their lives changed part way through.
We evaluate. We have a standard by which we judge. It is what we measure worth by. The standard we accept allows us to choose the best, the worst and all that falls between. Your choice makes the standard the acceptable measuring stick. You may not even measure up to your standard yet it is what you aspire to. You have made it your standard by the influences of others and the results of your choices.
To declare there is a last, implies there was a first. There was a beginning for that which ends. The cycle of life shows there will be another. The memories of the past are the building blocks for tomorrow. There are celebrations and remorses and contemplations being had all over the world. It has been a year of joys and sorrows and choices. Every year is. Every one chooses. I choose to renew relationships and influences which I hope will help others to make wise choices for themselves. Rewards abound when the fruit of that effort blossoms to their gain.
We have words of healing and words of hurt with which we intercede. We have sticks and stones to break the bones of those who will not take heed. We profess our right and moral need to be true to all our creed. And stop our ears and close our minds to the standards other hearts plead.Perhaps you grew a inch or gained a pound or made your mark to stand. Perhaps all the year has passed by without a day of noteworthiness to be found. You measure each day and what you had hoped to get done as you see fit. We take pictures and document achievements to ensure special moments are remembered. Year by year we do so. This year has been no exception. The circle of life cycles us through and we are amazed as it happens to us. Our favorite things bring us such joy. The dreaded things which must happen do not. Yet even the bad times are good when our standard is in place.
Mine is the Lord Jesus. The love of the Almighty Creator God of all the known universe flows through all He is and does and allows us to be; for that is who He is. His Holy Spirit lives within each one who knows Him and His ways as their standard. The love letters He has written declaring our worth are collected for our admonition in the Bible. There is no question which is not answered there nor any quandary which is left unsolved. Every standard which is contrary to Him fails to measure up to His peace, joy and love.
The really wonderful thought of the end and the beginning and the standard which judges it all, is that it is renewable. Day by day; year by year; even moment by moment, He is the same. We are offered the choice to renew ourselves to Him. We are not required to fully understand all the ways of He who made everything for His good pleasure. We are only called to choose. I hope your choice will be as mine this year. I choose to renew my life unto Him as long as He lends me breath.