New Years!!

Knowing myself, I have to write things down in order for it to mean something.

1. God is a priority.

2. Work on not being apathetic. Apathy = ignorance and arrogance.

3. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves."
-- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
this is what I want to live by every single day for the rest of my life. I've realized that throughout my life, you change people mostly through your own actions. It's beautiful in so many aspects because you know what love truly is when you have learned to be patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, humbled, not rude, not self-seeking, slow to anger, and forgiving.

Be patient. Everything happens for a reason. It may seem like a long time during the hard times, but it passes. Dad was distracted and gone for almost 12 years and look what had to happen in order for him to be the father he is today. World's greatest dad. Love is patient. God works in strange ways.

Be kind. Kindness repays you so well, yet do not expect any kindness in return. Be kind because you want to be kind, not because you feel obligated. Kindness is a trait that is undermined in society, yet when you experience it and see it, it never ceases to awe people. Love is kind.

Love does not envy. This is what I must work on a lot. I am envious when it comes to things I feel like I should have because "I deserve it," but if you think about, what do we actually deserve?. Still, envy is what will slowly kill a person. How can you be content if you are envious. Love does not envy.

Love is not proud. Pride is a self-inflicting weapon. Satan was an angel that was cast down because of his pride.

Love is not rude. LOVE IS NOT RUDE. As a Christian, I have to set an example to everyone around me through my daily life. Why not start with being polite?

It is not self-seeking. Do not mistake this for "please other people." This is talking about sacrifice. Learn to get out of your comfort zone to follow what God is telling you. Put others before yourself.

It is not easily angered. Being slow to anger is what I have been working on for the past couple months now. It goes hand in hand with patience, yet it requires a much higher level of understanding and compassion. I am going to continue working on this because I realized that being slow to anger exemplifies so much love. I hope that I can radiate this type of love as God has continued to regardless of my lukewarm faith.

It keeps no record of wrongs. Forgive and forget. Forgetting is hard, but I have to learn. Forgiving and forgetting go hand in hand. One can't fully forgive, if they don't fully forget. If people do change for the better, which they do, then by burdening them with their previous actions, you stall their progress. Forgive and forget not only for your own benefit, so that you don't hold any bitterness, but so that the other can continue to progress and learn, not be held down.

This was my personal New Years resolution list. What's yours?