JANUARY 2021

What do we want our lifestyle to be? Since it is the first day of a new year - this is a good question to ask ourselves. Our lifestyle will be what we determine to make it. Oh, I know, there are situations beyond our control sometimes, and we cannot all be exactly what we want to be; however, I am talking about here our attitudes, our purpose, our desires.

We are in control of our attitudes.  I found a quote I want to use as my mantra  (a slogan or statement repeated frequently) for the year 2021. I will share it with you and possibly you might want to adopt it as well.

"Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset."

-St Francie de Sales

Our whole world seems upset lately doesn't it? With the virus pandemic, social distancing, quarantine, economic uncertainty  and fear on every side it is easy to lose our peace isn't it?  "Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever" the quote says. We are to remind ourselves God is still in control, no matter what.

I have begun work on a new book for the year 2021, and haven't thought of a title yet; however, the theme will be peace. Or at least this is what I am feeling the Lord is putting on my heart. As we go through the months ahead I will be giving you little glimpses of the writings as I go along. 

My word for the year ahead is "PEACE." I encourage you to find a word for your year and think on that word. Find a scripture, poem, or quote which speaks to you which you can use as your mantra for the year to encourage and uplift your life; one which will help you to become a better person. 

"Let the peace of God rule in your hearts - and be thankful."

Coossians 3: 15 ESV

Something I did before Christmas (but I think your might enjoy it on days you have in the year ahead) was go through my old photos and pull out some special ones for me. The one above is of a Christmas in 1958 with me on the left, my sister, Debbie, middle and my brother, Gary.  I sent them a copy of this along with something I wrote about remembering this Christmas. 

You might want to do the same with your sibling or someone else in your life who gave you good memories. Share a picture with them and then tell them what they or the memory of that time meant to you.

It is a good thing to tell people how much they mean to our lives. I keep pretty note cards or special stationary on my desk with stamps nearby so I can jot down a note when it comes to my mind. I know in this day of e-mails and texts, letter writing may be going out of style, but how special it is to get a letter or a note from a loved one or friend. Make someones life better with a picture and a note.  You can also do this by e-mail of course - just do it.

"We should make each year of our lives more interesting than the one before."

-Srinivas Rao

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."

- C. S. Lewis

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams."

- Henry David Thoreau

"Hope - smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering 'it will be happier . . ."

-Alfred Lord Tennyson

"For last year's words belong to last year's languarge and next year's words await another voice."

- T. S . Eliot

PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT sandramansfieldwright@gmail.com AND SHARE YOUR FAVORITE PICTURE AND TELL ME WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU.  I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM. 

The above picture was taken Christmas before last, in 2019, of some of my grands and daughter-in-law playing games at Christmas. This is another of my favorite pics.  We are going to be positive and hopeful for days of family and friend get-togethers ahead in 2021.

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.

This new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the yesterdays."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

We need positive thoughts in our lives. Let us commit to fill our hearts and minds with only good thoughts. We will not look back with regrets and fret because of what we feel we have lost, but instead look forward to all we can do to make the year ahead be better for us and for those around us. 

What can we do to make someone's day brighter and better? Remember to pray for others. Prayer changes things - mostly it changes us. 

An excerpt from my new book on the subject of peace:

"We are to show this peace to the world around us by the way we react in times of crisis and stress. We do not fall apart, panic and have no hope. We stand strong in the Lord. We show love and compassion to others and do not allow hate and bitterness to spew from our lips. Different from the world, that's who we are! Remember, this world is not our true home. Often we get caught up in what's happening in this world and our focus is taken off Jesus, and we find ourselves getting worried, frightened and. upset - our calm and peace are taken away. Peace is just a prayer away. Reclaim it now."