As we enter the final hours of 2012 what are your thoughts? What are you looking forward to in the New Year? Have you had a chance to give it any thought? Have you gotten caught up in the matters at hand to a point where you are yet to come up for air to look forward? Or are you in a position were looking at your “should haves”, and “missed opportunities” of the past has you in the year-end lament, which often escalates into depression?

The past has already happened. Intellectually, I am certain you are aware of that fact. Is it apparent in your behavior that you recognize you cannot change the already lived past? Indeed we can examine the past to improve our present and future!

During this last quarter of this year I have been more reflective than I remember in past years. The more I look at the events of this year, the people, the places and the experiences which have shaped and molded me and my environment this year, there have been many moments of making connections. Connections between my life’s path and my choices have been highly visible. Many situations caused me to ask myself, “Why am I here again?” “Why am I dealing with this issue, yet again?” I have been able to take inventory, examining the variables that I manipulated to achieve certain outcomes. Not every situation was a negative one, however at times I quickly ask the questions of myself when things have gone over into the unwanted ditch, rather than when I am traveling smoothly on the paved road.

Some of those situations include relationships with individuals that I found to be saboteurs rather than friends. Saboteur is a word, which refers to one who engages in sabotage. The actions of a saboteur deliberately destroy, damage, or obstruct something; sabotage is a willful act. These actions take place under a cloud of duplicity. Duplicitous is a term used to describe the actions of that beguiling serpent in the Garden of Eden. He appeared one way yet his hidden agenda lured an unsuspecting Eve to make choices, which remain under scrutiny several millenniums later.

I look back on my choices to gather data for future use. I am thankful for those relationships and the opportunities to choose. I am even thankful in the experiences that appear to be negative, because God equipped me with the ability to rise above those situations, according to His word; He made that provision for me (and you) before the foundation of the earth! I celebrate Him and that knowing, knowing that He loves me (and you) so very much, that he has already equipped us to deal with the issues of our lives. What a phenomenal comfort! What an awe inspiring GOD!

One of my beautiful, smart and loving daughters said to me today (when we were speaking on the topic of my a particular relationship, “Mom, you care when nobody else does!” Wow, what a stunning unsolicited comment to be made by someone who knows me intimately! Glory to God, because I believe the truth of her statement is a reflection of God in me. Yet before I was formed in my mother’s womb our Omniscient Father knew that I would have a year where He would remind me of: those saboteurs, the love He gave me for them, confirming evidence of their presence in my life, and the tools to overcome their actions; long before I was a fetus!

As I join you in taking inventory over this past year I look for lessons learned, including new layers of knowledge being plied upon lessons I thought that I had already learned. The more I examine myself the more evidence I have of The Heavenly Father who loves me (and you). He allows me to recall both the good and the bad of the past 12 months.  He wills that I (and you) reflect on His goodness, His love and His mercy.

I encourage myself (and you) to look to the future without condemnation, without plans of retribution and without thoughts of punishment for the errors and foibles (made by you or saboteurs) in 2012. Instead I pray that we will look to build an even stronger relationship with God. In our relationships with Him there are no acts of sabotage, no duplicity. As you make your lists, whether you call them resolutions, goals, or plans, as you move forward into 2013 ask for more wisdom, and when you receive it, deliberately behave in ways that give honor to God and evidence that you love your neighbor as yourself.

After taking inventory, take action; forgive yourself along with any other saboteurs! Love the Father that has made you with all of your gifts resembling Him. Begin to focus on the love you shared in 2012 and the new opportunities to love your neighbor as yourself in 2013.

Love,

Deborah

“Lighting the path to loving your neighbor as yourself!”