Old Things Pass Away

…Old things are passed away, behold all things have become new…2 Corinthians 5:17

A new year, and new experiences are before us. The new year gives us a great opportunity to start new relationships with our children. and to review all relationships in general. We can determine if our relationships are progressive or stagnant, healthy or sick, inspiring or depressing. We can terminate most relationships, but not our relationships with our children. No matter what happens, that relationship is permanent.

So, it behooves us to do all we can to move relationships with our children from stagnant to progressive, from sick to healthy, from depressing to inspiring. It brings joy into our lives when our primary relationships are satisfying.

It’s easy to determine that our children have problems, but if we examine ourselves closely we will see clearly, what we contribute to those problems.

Since there are many ways that we contribute to the problems, it takes persistent effort to farrow out what we are doing that contributes to the madness. Sometimes, changing one small thing causes a positive shift within our relationships. Changes such as doing things differently, looking at situations differently, even something as simple as communicating, more positively, makes a difference between a dying or thriving relationship.

Old things are passed away…. So, let’s let go of the old arguments, forget the ever so present flaws that stare boldly at us every time we look at our children, and resist the desire to win every argument. Let’s rejoice in our ability to sidestep arguments. If it’s an old problem, let’s rejoice when we approach it from a new angle.

Start today, make the Serenity Prayer our creed for the year:

Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference.

Really mean it too. Practicing acceptance is powerful, and freeing. This year, let’s build progressive, healthy, inspiring relationships with our children.