Happy New Year’s Eve! It is evening time here, so it is still 2025 for us. Wherever you are, I hope this blog will help you each year going forward.

This morning I exercised in the therapy pool at our adult wellness center. This center is where Senior adults (ages 50 and older) gather for a variety of activities, encouraging better health and staying active. Our group is 99% female, so it is a social event with as much conversation as exercise. 🙂 Some call it “talk therapy” while we work out.

One of the topics in conversation among a few was the secret to longevity. The main spokesperson stated that a long life is for those who find a hobby that they love doing. Something that gives them pleasure and passes the time. My brief input began with, “ I believe it needs to be much bigger than that; much bigger than ourselves.” You may be wondering why I said, “brief input.” I knew that it could easily sound like a sermon if I continued, and that would serve no good purpose. Sometimes, less is better depending on your choice of words.

So, here I get to expand on my viewpoint, and without the sermon. I do believe that we are to enjoy the abundant life that Jesus came to give us. That is not self-indulgence as long as we have discovered our purpose in life and are using it for His Glory. And I’m not too sure about it causing us to live longer either way. But one thing I am sure of is that if we are living for Him, no matter how many days He has numbered for us, we will have an abundance of joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the nine virtues described in Galatians 5:22-23 that manifest in a person’s life as a result of being guided by the Holy Spirit. These grow as believers connect with God through faith, prayer, and the study of Scripture.

As I list these virtues, I recognize areas where I need growth. I thank God that His desire for me is to continue growing in these virtues, and He has shown me the way: faith, prayer, and scripture.

Which brings me to our new year and a poem that He inspired me to write on December 27^th, 2016. It is in my first book, Inspire Me.

Post Christmas Reflections

“When Christmas is over, now what do we see?

Are we still laughing and singing our praises to thee?

Are we shopping and giving to those in need?

Or are we like old Scrooge, still living in greed?

Are we living in peace, where fighting has ceased?

Where the love in our hearts we have finally released?

Or we back to the old ways of living for self?

As we mindlessly place our idols high on the shelf

Did the reason for the season slip quickly away?

 As we, like sheep, go blindly astray?

PLEASE LET IT NOT BE!

Now, this day, is a great place to start

To share all year long, the love of God, straight from our hearts!“

The first scripture reference I listed is 1Corinthians 10:14-15. I am using the Amplified Version.

“Therefore, my beloved, run, [keep far away] from [any sort of} idolatry [and that includes loving anything more than God, or participating in anything that leads to sin and enslaves the soul]. V15 I am speaking as to wise and sensible people; judge [carefully and thoughtfully consider] for yourselves what I say.”

Would you agree, my friends, that this is a” A Great Place To Start”? Right here, right now, let’s commit to finding and serving our God-given purpose. For this is truly a life well lived, no matter the length of days.

God bless you all, and may Joy unspeakable be had in your New Year,

Reba