New Wings

Beginning again; now something I love. Beginning again, with God's grace from above. As we have embarked upon this New year, we all want to do better than we did last year.  So, we’ve made resolutions, promises, and set new goals. Problem - we become overwhelmed with so many other 'things' and then allow our new initiatives to fall by the wayside. But like a beautiful baby butterfly, let’s take flight! And when we must land for whatever reason, let’s do it with grace... then get back up again.

We shouldn’t be so hard on ourselves if we falter or fail. Remember this - God gives us chances over and over again.  They are new beginnings - to right wrongs, to say I’m sorry, to say I love you, to help somebody else, even something we take for granted like waking up and seeing a new day. But how many of us really set out to start over, to refresh, and to renew the old? Do we just stop trying and leave well enough alone?

I’ve heard a lot of people say ‘At the beginning, I was or we were ...’ But what happened to now? What progress was made? What happened to now? Did you actually see accomplishments? Do you know what mistakes were made along the way? What happened to now? Did you learn from your mistakes? Now, what? Stagnation?

Starting over doesn’t mean that you have to extinguish the past, because you can’t. Just CHOOSE to start fresh. You cannot do anything about that past because there will always be someone who will show up and say ‘I remember.’ But you can move forward by not becoming complacent, feeling unresolved or wallowing in self-pity.  I am so guilty of these things sometimes.

But I have resolved to first of all, express my innermost feelings in some form or fashion. Whether in words or in actions, I will consciously choose to keep away negativity.

I have resolved to not be unproductive, discouraged or disheartened, for those are only the enemy’s thoroughfares to stagnation.

I have begun to utilize talents I have kept buried deep inside because of fear of not being accepted or ridiculed.

I have begun to go back (yes, I have to go back sometimes) to reevaluate and revitalize old ideas that I thought were not good enough, but found them to be a blessing to somebody else.

And I have begun to cultivate and bring to fruition gifts from seeds that were planted in me by someone who NEVER has to begin again. “He doesn’t make mistakes!” Genesis 1:1KJV - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… Genesis 1:31KJV - God saw all that He had made, and it was very good…  No, He has no need to begin again or start over because all that He does is good and perfect.

Although we fear making mistakes and failing, the tiniest step can be a new beginning. God has given us grace and mercy to reconsider our choices, and to change. No matter what stumbling blocks you may encounter or how many mistakes are made, any initiation towards change means a new beginning. Progression doesn’t happen unless you put it in motion. Start fresh! Choose today to change today!

Take new wings of grace and take flight… even if you have to begin again, over and over again.

Beginning again is now something I love. Beginning again, with God’s grace from above!

Blessings,

PJ Payne