ELMER GIVES US SOME THOUGHTS FOR 2014

Being Amish, we do not consider New Year's Day a holiday or religious day.  We go about our chores like we do six days a week.  As you probably know we only do what we have to on Sunday, the Lord's Day.  But, on New Year's Eve, it does not mean I don't think of the past year and how it flew by.  Also, I think of good times this year and the not so good times of the year.  Things maybe that I should have done, but didn't or did do but shouldn't have.  So I thought, as we get close to New Year's, I would share some of my thoughts with you.

Matthew 6:14-15 reads "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." I stop to think if I have forgiven everyone their trespasses against me.  We have communion twice a year and before we receive it, we must go to whoever we have offended and ask for their forgiveness before we receive communion.  If people come to us, we must forgive them.  But, I sometimes wonder if I really forgive people or do I say I did, but still have a grudge or resentment inside that I haven't forgiven.  When I think of something that happened years ago, I wonder, if I still remember it, and did I forgive them?

Also, I wonder if I was worthy the forgiveness that people have given me.  Have I tried to change my ways so I do not do it again?  I remember a friend of mine - we grew up together, were friends together, and all of a sudden one day he wouldn't talk to me.  Try as I may he wouldn't tell me why.  Finally a mutual friend told me that something I said kiddingly had offended my friend.  My friend was upset.  I went to his home and apologized and explained that I had not ment it that way.  He forgave me.  But still, I wonder sometimes if I have done that to one person have I done it to someone else.  I try never to do that again.

It's not just the big things we ask forgiveness.  I forgave the man, who many years ago struck our buggy with his car that seriously injured one of our daughters.  But, did I ask Anna for forgiveness in an disagreement we had the other day?  Did I forgive the person that cut me off in traffic?

I also wonder if I think too much of the past and not the future.  Anna tells me "we can't live in the past" and she's right but how many times do I try.  Now there is nothing wrong with having memories of the past, but do I spend too much there.  Our way to the Lord is not in the past, but in the future. 

Which leads to another thought-if God has forgiven me-have I forgive myself??? I know there are things in my life that weren't the right thing to do at the time, as I look back.  A few were down right dumb.  I have asked the Lord to forgive me and He has- why can't I forgive myself?    Are we greater than God? No ! Then I must forgive myself.

Wonder also, if I have thanked the Lord for all the wonderful gifts He has given me.  Many of His gifts, I might not even be aware of or ignored.  I want to make sure He is thanked.  Sometimes I have asked Him for things and have not received, but that was His answer.  It was something I did not need or now was not the time. 

So as I go into the New Year, I try to dump all the sins that I have done.  I always ask the Lord to forgive me.  When 2014 comes, I want to start clean with the Lord.  I don't make promises of being sinless that I can't keep.  In fact, the only promise I do make is that I will love the Lord, my family, and whatever the Lord puts before me.  I don't know what is coming in 2014 but I know that the Lord will see me through no matter how good or not so good.

I didn't mean to go on so, but I hope that I gave you some things to think about with the coming New Year.

Anna and I wish you all a very Happy 2014,
Elmer

THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL RECIPE ON JANUARY 1, 2014 BY ELMER'S WIFE, ANNA. YOU SAUERKRAUT PEOPLE WILL LIKE THIS ONE. THIS IS ANNA'S FIRST RECIPE ON NEW YORK STATE OF MIND.