A Clean Slate

Hello, All,

I'm a little late in posting today because it is a day of new beginnings and I have been swamped. We started off the morning with Convocation in my school district. This is a time when we all get together and reflect on the successes of last school year and roll out our goals and themes for a new year. As I sat in the convocation, my mind starting thinking of new beginnings.

One of the things I loved most about teaching in a college was that every 15 weeks my life began fresh. I got a new group of students, possibly new classes, etc. I like fresh starts. I looked around convocation this morning and saw teachers and principals who were very stressed out and tired at the end of last school but ready to go again with a fresh vision.

In our family, we take time every few months to self-reflect and have "fresh starts". Truly, I think the ability to self reflect is so important. I have watched people through the years who never take time to sit down and analyze their life and walk with God. They keep making the same mistakes over and over. This is not how God intended for us to live. The Word of God says, "Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23). He meant for us to have fresh starts but we have to have a desire to start again. How often do you reflect on your spiritual life, family life, ministry life and determine what needs to be adjusted?

Last fall we found our family was in a whirlwind. After about two months of each one of us constantly on the go, we sat down and determined we needed a new plan. We determined that we would eat dinner together every night no matter what, we determined that each child would have alone time with us. Fresh starts make us better.

As you enter into this school year, look at your family and make some fresh starts. Someone once said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Live God's way...His mercies are new every morning so that we can start over! Keep the successes of yesterday but turn the failures of yesterday into a new beginning.

Love to all!
Sis. D.