Happy 2013! The question of the last few weeks seems to be: “Have you made any New Year’s Resolutions?”

Morning news shows have been full of coverage on how to stick to your resolutions, good resolutions to make, statistics on how long (or short) the typical resolution lasts. The new year is filled with new opportunities, new possibilities and people are hopeful.

But soon our attention is taken away from the “newness” of the new year and onto, well, the next best thing (or at least the next thing hoarding our attention). It is a shame really. Each year ends with Thanksgiving, moving to Advent (preparing for Christ’s birth), to Christmas (a celebration of Christ), and then to New Year (a chance to reflect on the past and look to the future). A neat end to the year. A time when people seem to enjoy family and friends, remember what they are thankful for and look forward to the future.

But then, as time goes by, all that fades in to the hum drum of the day-to-day. And now and again, we long for the holidays that seem so distant.

But what if we could live in the “holiday spirit” year round. What if we could see each day as a blessing.

¹⁶ Be joyful always; ¹⁷ pray continually; ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

In 2012 I read a book called “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp. A challenging book for me. This book was a call to live a thankful (full) life every day.

As I face this new year, I would like to live the full life Christ has given me EACH DAY.

How about you?

~Jillene