Let’s talk about those New Year’s Resolutions. If you made them, how’s it going? If not, why not? I’m genuinely curious for a couple of reasons.

First, I don’t make them. Not anymore – inevitably I kept setting myself up for failure, and with that came the accompanying guilt and maybe even shame. So eventually I quit them.

Second, I came across some interesting statistics. (I saw these numbers in several places, so I think they’re probably close.)

• 9% of Americans complete their resolutions
• 43% quit by the end of January
• 23% quit by the end of the first week

Now, I’m not saying your resolutions are bad, or that we shouldn’t ever do them. But those stats got me reflecting on my own experiences. I vowed to quit this, start that, do better at something important, set boundaries over there, and at one time I had lofty career and financial goals as well.

Those things represented my definition of success, and my New Year’s Resolutions reflected my quest.

I don’t think about success in those terms at all anymore. I think about Kingdom success. For me, that can look like forgiveness when it’s hard, flexibility when I had other plans, holding things loosely, not living in the future but staying in today.

That last one is big for me – I want to stay present. John Roedel said, “Life isn’t the ocean – it’s the wave.” I want spend mine riding the waves, not being scared of the ocean.

Success by the world’s definition is fleeting. Kingdom success means significance, and that lasts forever. We want our lives to matter. The truth is that our purpose is very simple: To know Jesus, and to make Him known. Once we know Him, we find that He has specially equipped us to make Him known to others, perhaps in ways that don’t look conventional. He becomes known when He is shown. He is shown when our shining faces reflect Him truly, and people will want to know why we shine.

Final thought for today. We must remember that this is not our home. CS Lewis captured it perfectly in Mere Christianity:

My plan for next year is simply to trust Him enough to let Him choose my path. If I’m about God’s business, He will see to mine.

So go easy on yourself, my friends, whatever you decide about resolutions for this year. You are loved.

Angie

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Angie Clayton Author|Speaker|Storyteller

Angie Clayton is an author, speaker and editor who has a passion for connecting with the hurting. She is a storyteller, and her writing is rich with diversity. On her blog, Framing the Days, Angie shares with you the joys and beauty of both the mountain tops and the valleys of her life and the lives of those around her. Her book, “Peering into the Tunnel: An Outsider’s Look into Grief,” is a collection of real stories, as well as helpful suggestions to best serve someone who is grieving.

Angie is a long-time Bible teacher who is passionate about connecting with younger generations, and engaging with the hurting. She spends much of her time doing life one-on-one with women. Her speaking engagements include numerous in-person, radio and podcast appearances on many topics, including Grief, Grandparenting, chronic illness, and life after Retirement.

Achievements:

Angie graduated from the University of Kansas with degrees in Accounting and Business Administration, followed by her CPA certification

Personal Interests:

Angie and Greg, married for 36 years now, live in the Kansas City area, and they have two children and four grandchildren. Angie enjoys spending time with the grandkids, reading, puzzles and amateur photography. She is passionate about walking out life’s storms with those around her.

Contribution to the Community:

Angie and her husband were foster parents for a number of years. She volunteered for more than a decade at Camp CUMCITO (City Union Mission’s Camp in the Ozarks), which serves hundreds of low-income kids, primarily from urban KC.

Angie was recognized as “Kindest Kansas Citian” in 2003 for her work with children.

Fun Fact:

Angie homeschooled her kids while they were in high school, which was no easy feat!