New Year's Resolution

As the new year approaches, many people begin making their "New Year's Resolutions" ...excercise more, lose weight, stop smoking, remodel house, spend less, and so on. There is excitement about the new goals that we make and intend to keep. We get excited about what this new year will hold for us. Could be an expected child growing in the womb, marriage date coming, a vacation that has been planned for months, maybe years.

But for some, the new year brings sorrow. This has been deeply on my heart for weeks. As I have gone through the season my heart has been hurting and at times my eyes have been brought to tears. For as the "New Year" approaches this will be a year of firsts for many.

I am reminded of the mom who lost her 2 yr. old daughter, Vivian, due to drowning in their swimming pool. As Zechariah was in PICU recovering from whooping cough, a little girl named Vivian laid in the next room with her life slipping away from drowning in the family pool.

As AJ and I kissed each other at midnight last night, my grandmother was standing their as a new widow, first time in many years not able to kiss her loved one at this special time.


The family whom their loved one is now missing, unknown to them if they are alive or dead.

View Poster Case Handled By: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

GABRIEL SCOTT JOHNSON
Case Type: Endangered Missing
DOB: May 3, 2009	Sex: Male
Missing Date: Dec 27, 2009	Race: White
Age Now: 7 Month(s)	Height: 2'0" (61 cm)
Missing City: TEMPE	Weight: 20 lbs (9 kg)
Missing State : AZ	Hair Color: Lt. Brown
Missing Country: United States	Eye Color: Blue
Case Number: NCMC1137894
Circumstances: Gabriel was last seen on December 27, 2009.

This new year for them will be a new year of life hurting without loved ones. 2010 will be the first "year" their loved one has not lived in with them. May seem small to some, for others, this is a big deal... I speak from experience.

So why do I bring this up?

Two reasons.

First, I am in hope that each one of us will be in prayer for these hurting ones. We may not know them, they not know us, but God knows each hurting one. He knows their needs. He knows their deepest pain. The tears that have fallen down their cheeks.

Psalm 56:8 (KJV) Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

Second, take time to appreciate the loved ones, friends, in your life. Call them. Give a tight, warm hug. Send a hand written card letting them know you are thinking of them. Listen to their every care, though it may seem small to you, it could be big to them. Invite them over to dinner. Kiss your child one more time before bed. Visit your grandparents and ask them to tell you old memories they have of growing up. Show patience to the rude cashier, she may have lost a child. Forgive the driver who cut in front of you, he may angry and hurting at the thought his dad's life was taken by a stranger who robbed his house.

May we make a "Resolution" to show one another love and patience this year. To be in prayer for the hurting. For next year, it could be YOU, it could be ME, who will need love, patience, heartfelt prayers.