I’ve lost count of how many of my disappointments have transitioned themselves into blessings. I find I often move forward from a setback and, if I’m lucky, upward. Somehow, I think this is the plan for all of us; not ours, but His.

The new year is well underway and though many of us take advantage of the first of the year as a new beginning, my fresh start begins on Easter Sunday. It’s an opportunity to reinvent myself after all the sacrifice has been made.

Whether I’ve given up tortilla chips, lengthy Facebook sessions, or have gone through some kind of emotional turmoil during the last season, I can now reflect on my ordeal and begin again. I can allow myself a rebirth, a renewal, leaving behind all the discord that has, hopefully, made me a better person while I’ve deepened my relationship with God.

As we progress into the coming seasons, I anticipate more triumphs and less regrets, more joy and less worry, more love and less fear. Each morning I’ll wake with a fresh outlook and a deeper appreciation for just how precious each day is.

And each new day is yet another chance to embrace my joy.

Sharon – Embracing my Joy

“…just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life.” Romans 6:4