A Fresh Start

Today is the 1^st day of school, a brand new year. The house is quiet and I am very reflective, on so many things.

I LOVE the beginning of school. Being in education most of my life, as either a student or a teacher, there is something about the beginning of a new school year. No matter what happened in the previous year, the New Year brings a promise of a fresh start. All the bad grades, arguments with friends, mistakes made, all of those things are in the past and all that lies ahead is a new year.  A Fresh Start…those words have been my mantra over this past year. This particular fresh start today seems especially important.

For those of you who know me well, you know where we were at the time last year. Last year’s fresh start was full of uncertainty and confusion and fear. There many difficult decisions that had to be made during that time.  Only by God’s grace and His amazing mercy have we made it to this place, this year. The journey has been difficult at times and there have been moments when I wondered if we would ever get to a more peaceful, stable place and all I can say today on this wonderful day full of fresh starts…is…God is good, ALL the time.

In January, God gave me those verses from Isaiah 43

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19”

I have looked back at that verse many times over the past 8 months and reminded myself that even though it may seem like 2 steps forward and 5 steps backward, God has been and is continuing to do a new thing. A BRAND NEW THING…a fresh start.

Last night we sat around the table and talked about our favorite summer memories and our goals for the New Year. I looked at the kids faces and saw that everyone really did have an incredible summer and that they were ready to tackle this New Year. There was an excitement and anticipation, almost an eagerness about them. No fear, or worry, or anxiety, or regret about the past….just looking forward. And I found myself in that moment being truly thankful. So thankful that my kids also see the value in a fresh start and are ready to embrace what is to come for them, for me, and for our family.

I don’t know what is going on in your corner of the world today. It may not be your day of Fresh Starts. But God’s word tells us that everyday can be a fresh start. Lam. 3:22 – 23 tells us:

²² The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
²³ Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.

So, even today you can have your fresh start. EVERY morning His mercies are new, for you and for me. Choose to start fresh with Him today. You won’t ever regret it.