“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
After the hustle and bustle of December, we are expected to charge into January, guns blazing, our lists of resolutions tucked firmly under our arms. We make grand plans for personal growth and wellness: exercise more, eat less, cease smoking, stick to the budget, get organized. However it only takes us a few hours, days, or weeks (if we’re lucky) before we crash and burn. Why is this?
Take a Break
We never took the time to STOP. January isn’t the time to add stress upon stress. No matter how minimalist you are, December takes us all by force in some way. Whether it’s the challenge to say “no” to consumerism at every turn or “thank you” for gifts that we don’t really want or need, we are constantly trying to maintain the precarious balance between our internal beliefs and the external expectations around us. There is also the stress of relating carefully with loved ones who think differently from us through the holidays.
For those who jump into the shopping frenzy full swing, the stress is more blatant. We’ve all seen the Black Friday videos of humans gone mad over the greatest deals: stampeding, screaming, hitting, weeping in the aisles. I know that’s not you. Still, exhaustion and expectation hound us from store to store until every last, perfect (or good enough) gift is wrapped and under the tree.
Finally, it’s all over, and we breathe a week-long sigh of relief before we disrupt our schedules once more with a last hurrah: the New Year’s Eve all-nighter. And we wake up on January 1st, with our list of resolutions before us, and no resolve to begin. Sleep deprived, hung over (possibly), and behind on all aspects of normal daily life, we are told that today is the time to add new routines and drop our familiar, comfort-giving and de-stressing measures.
Resolve Not to Resolve
It’s simply too much to ask of any normal human being.
So don’t. Stop. Wait. Relax. Let January be your month to . . .
Reflect
Recharge
Renew
Reset
Reconnect
Rest.
Life has enough troubles of its own for you to be adding more to it. Do you really want to beat out all the other newbies for a turn on the elliptical at the gym? Do you want to be another new face lost in the Weight Watchers crowd? Do you want to be fighting over that last organizing tote at Target?
A Better Way
Let everyone else jump into the New Year with their resolution madness. Give them a month to wear themselves out and suffer defeat before returning to their old ways. You can take a better, different path.
Today, as you prepare to welcome in the New Year, take out a piece of paper and write down 10 things (or more) you are thankful for from last year. Rejoice over what went well and acknowledge what didn’t. Think about changes that would bring more joy and purpose to your life in the coming year. Dream. It doesn’t cost you a thing. Ask yourself, “What if I . . .?” or “What I’d really like to do is . . .”
Let these thoughts of gratitude and anticipation simmer this month. Give yourself time to assemble a framework for setting up goals that last not just for one year, but for a lifetime. For now, though,
Cheers! To a January of “Rest.”
Giveaway
To help you get started with your time of reflection, I am giving away a copy of Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling. It is a lovely, rose-colored, imitation leather gift edition for women. To enter to win, please leave a comment below, sharing one thing you are thankful for from 2016. The contest ends at 11:59 p.m. CST, Monday, January 2nd. Good luck!
(Update: Congratulations to Carmen at A Simple Homestead, who won the Jesus Calling book. Thanks to all who left a comment whether here or on the Facebook page or via email- you were all included in the drawing.)
Ginger Smith says
Thank you for the challenge to be thankful. I really don’t want to be thankful about 2016 at all. It was one of the toughest years yet. Through it all, though, I see God’s patience and faithfulness, and I am thankful for that.
Aimee Mae Wiley says
Ginger, I am sorry to here that last year was so difficult for you, but I love that you were able to see God’s goodness even in the hard times. I hope that this year you will experience more of His joy and peace!
Jim says
Wonderful Aimee!! Dovetails so well with my thoughts throughout the holiday season. Try as we may, it is difficult not to feel torn. This is a beautiful reminder!
Aimee Mae Wiley says
Jim, thanks for commenting! 🙂 I agree, it is a struggle for me, too. I want to do both nothing and everything during the holidays. I want to give both lavishly and simply. I want everything to be both meaningful and fun. It is hard to find the balance and to stick to it!
Carmen N says
I have been so thankful watching my daughter turn into a Reader!
Aimee Mae Wiley says
Isn’t it a relief when they finally put it all together and start to really read on their own?! I have one more to go, and she is taking her sweet time. Congratulations, and Happy New Year!
Heather says
Oh, and I’m thankful for the many MANY friends who have shown us such unparalleled unconditional love and support during a season where we really havent even been able to give back at all! (Thanks for being part of that!)
Heather says
Aimee, this is probably my favorite of any blog you’ve written. YES. Rest. I’m giving myself permission to REST this January. We were kind of forced into rest for Christmas (with sickness), and thus ended in some disappointment and failure to meet obligations. God created rest for a reason. He knows we need it. In fact, we force our children to do it, why don’t we force ourselves? Thanks friend. God is a good, good father, isn’t He?
Aimee Mae Wiley says
I’m so glad this spoke to you. I definitely needed it, too. It’s funny how we write what we are still learning ourselves sometimes. God is sweet to allow us that privilege and to grant us rest for the journey, if we will take it. 🙂