It will probably not be surprising to most that some of my favorite “Santa” gifts each Christmas are my new planner and our new family calendar! I have learned this last year, especially, how much I find comfort in having an organized life. My mind has gone back to the idea of “order” A LOT over the last several months. Our family theme for this year is all about our home, including it being a “house of order”. The Lord doesn’t work in chaos and I don’t think we should either. Now, I am also very aware that just because you have a plan doesn’t mean all will go “as planned”, but I find comfort in it nonetheless.
Looking Back
I love January because I feel like it is a very natural time of reflection. And I have learned a lot simply by spending the last several weeks reflecting on 2021 and what I want for the future. It’s been interesting peeling back the layers. There are initial things that immediately came to mind, but others have become more noticeable only as I have peeled back some layers.
I can confidently say that 2021 was a year of refinement. Last year, I wanted my focus to be on gratitude. And I can say, now looking back, that I do think I have developed more of an attitude of gratitude in my life. It’s something I can always improve more, but I feel like I am starting this year with a lot more genuine gratitude in my heart. The Lord has blessed me with a beautiful life. I have so much to be grateful for. And I feel that more than ever before.
Looking Forward
I love goals. That is not to say, that I conquer every goal I make, in the timetable that I mean to – I DON’T! But goals are supposed to stretch us. I very much doubt that anyone makes a goal and is perfect at doing it from then on. Goals ebb and flow, but if by the end, you are even a little bit better – that is PROGRESS!
There has been a quote from Brother Bradley R. Wilcox that has been on my mind a lot the last month:
“God loves us as we are, but He also loves us too much to leave us this way.”
God loves us no matter what we do. But He sent us here to grow! So…
GOALS = GOOD
I also really loved what President Russell M. Nelson said about goals this year. He made three suggestions:
1: STRENGTHEN YOUR SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION
2: BE KIND TO OTHERS
3: BE RESOLUTE
I especially loved his final one. President Nelson went on to say: “The Lord loves effort. The Lord loves consistency. The Lord loves steadfastness. While we surely will come up short from time to time, our persistent efforts to hear Him and follow the inspiration He gives us will help us to “wax strong in the Spirit”.
Isn’t that so good?! It has inspired me. I want to be known as someone who tried. I fall short of what I yearn to be a lot, but I keep trying. And I think that is enough sometimes. And the amazing thing I have learned is the more I try, even when I feel like I still fail at times, those times happen further apart and I find that I am doing better.
I have loved making goals this last month. We’ve made individual goals, couple goals, and family goals. It’s going to be a great year. The Berning household is FEELING it!
This year, my focus keeps going to being INTENTIONAL. I want to be really intentional about how I live my life. From the big things to the small. I want to be intentional in my relationships. I want to be intentional with my time. I want to be intentional about what I am consuming in my life (movies, music, etc.). If it’s not working towards my main goal in life, than there is probably something better.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf said:
"Do you want to change the shape of your life? Change the shape of your day. Do you want to change your day? Change this hour. Change what you think, feel, and do at this very moment. A small rudder can steer a large ship. Small bricks can become magnificent mansions. Small seeds can become towering sequoias. Minutes and hours well spent are the building blocks of a life well lived. They can inspire goodness, lift us from the captivity of imperfections, and lead us upward to the redemptive path of forgiveness and sanctification."
I am excited for this year. I have so much hope and optimism for the possibilities that may come. I love thinking about the goodness that will fill the pages of our family calendar. But I am even more excited for those little moments, that won’t get written on the calendar, that make life truly full. So here’s to a beautiful year, filled with intention.
Wonderful