A Goldilocks Life

Ready for the New Year?

Christmas planning and activities filled my calendar for most of December. Between parties, sending a letter instead of cards to family and friends, and shopping for gifts and food as well as preparing meals and treats, my FranklinCovey Planner was packed. The results were wonderful memories, lots of fun and photos, and sleep deprivation.

Now that we’ve returned gifts that didn’t fit and stuffed the freezer with leftover ham and cardamom bread, it’s time to prepare for New Year’s Day. Our son will spend a few days with us. Planning the menu should be easy. . . something with ham and cardamom bread for starters.

Another task awaiting me before January 1 is choosing our church’s memory verses for each month of the new year. I try not to repeat, so I’ll rely on my database of verses from the last five years and select ones not yet memorized. The Bible is chock full of so many wonderful verses worth memorizing, it isn’t difficult.

Most importantly, early in the new year, I usually spend a few hours alone connecting with the Lord. I begin with a spiritual check-up published by the C.S. Lewis Institute[1] that has helped me grow spiritually and prepare my heart for what may be ahead. Afterward, I review my “End in Mind” worksheet that helps me consider what I’d most like to Be, Do, Have, Help, Enjoy, and Leave before I die[2]. I write goals that may guide me in the first six months of the year. I plan to review the “End in Mind” worksheet and write new goals again in July.

However you spent Christmas, I pray you were blessed with wonderful memories. May the Lord guide you in 2025 as you seek to love and serve Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Happy New Year!

[1] “Discipleship of Heart and Mind Annual Spiritual Check-up” www.cslewisinstitute.org

[2] From “The New Eve”™ by Dr. Robert M. Lewis

“Silent Night”

One Christmas, Dad decided we should sing carols. There we all were, encircling Dad on the front room floor. He played his Gibson ES-150 sunburst hollow-body electric guitar wearing no shirt, just pajama bottoms. We had all been bathed, and only Mom was still dressed. There were “chestnuts roasting” and “Frosty the Snowman” –he didn’t know all the chords, so we sang those parts acapella. Dad used a Christmas carol book for a few of the time-honored songs.

That started a family tradition. “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “Jingle Bells” became favorites, with Dad strumming his guitar. Sometimes Mom played piano, but mostly she sang along. We didn’t harmonize. We all sang the melodies as loud as we liked. Tears fill my eyes as I recall Mom and Dad singing together, smiling at us and one another.

As years went on, Mom created lyric sheets of Christmas songs, and we sat on chairs and couches. We even sang simple harmonies. But early on, there were just the lit Christmas tree in the corner, the piano on the opposite wall, and the bunch of us in between on the carpet singing any words we could remember, with Dad strumming the chords he recalled or faking it if he couldn’t. Who knew we would sing carols at Christmastime for the rest of our lives?

This year, my brother Dave, brother-in-law Joe, and niece Jessie played guitar and nephew Randy played piano. “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is a family favorite, and a bunch of us acted out six geese a-laying, five golden rings, etc. Keeping with tradition, we ended with “Silent Night,” as it was Mom’s favorite. We sang it at her funeral.

“Silent Night” was written in 1818 in a rush to create a Christmas hymn for an Austrian church where the organ was broken. Father Joseph Mohr felt distraught, and it came to him that he could write a new song. Lord brought one to mind. He wrote down “Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright. . .”

That night “Silent Night” was sung for the first time, accompanied on guitar to a tune organist Franz Gruber composed at Father Joseph’s request. If it weren’t for a broken organ, there would never have been that beautiful remembrance of Jesus’ birth that reminds us “Jesus, Lord at Thy birth” is who Christmas is all about.

Blessed Be the Name of the Lord

Proverbs 18:10. The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

The snow blew sideways and deepened as we drove the Interstate back to my son’s college. Ray rode with eyes fixed on the road, as if by careful watching he could help navigate. One hand on my cell phone, the other on the steering wheel, I called to advise folks we’d be late. The car began to fishtail. I dropped the phone as our car slid into the truck next to us. Crying “Lord Jesus!” As our car began to spin around, I took my hands off the wheel and closed my eyes. We bounced onto rough ground and rolled to a stop in the ditch between the east- and west-bound lanes of traffic, uninjured. The truck never even stopped. Ray stared wide-eyed at me. Shaking, I dialed 9-1-1 and reported our emergency. As we waited for help to arrive, I murmured, “I’m sorry, Buddy. Thank God you’re okay.”

I can’t think about that day without thankfulness flooding my heart and tears filling my eyes. The strong tower of Jesus’ name is the only safe place when life spins out of control. Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Instead of running to call a friend or opening the refrigerator, let’s call on the Lord. Rather than waiting until our spouse gets home, we may talk to God now.

Do you face a difficult decision? Has life taken an unexpected turn? You may go to God in prayer—He hears, cares, and answers. We may call on the powerful name of the Lord Jesus Christ and find refuge, whatever we face. Then we may sing this testimony with the congregation: “Blessed be the name of the Lord!”