. . . The Wonder of It All

A favorite verse of mine (by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow), is taped to my computer desk so that I can read it often. It reads:

Chill air and wintry winds! My ear

Has grown familiar with your song;

I hear it in the opening year,

I listen, and it cheers me long.

I love the poetry. I love the imagery.

We have just experienced—are experiencing—the opening of a brand new year. “Chill air and wintry winds” from Longfellow’s verse could certainly be described as having a song, but you have to ask how this cheers Mr. Longfellow. My answer would have to be:

It’s the wonder of it all.

I always stay up to welcome in the new year at twelve o’clock, midnight, on December 31. There’s just something special, almost magical, about experiencing that first minute of a brand new year.

A brand new year! This means the old year is finished, over, done! And now we have a fresh start! And it gives one cause to wonder . . .

What does this new year hold for me?

Will it be a good year?

Or will it be a year of struggle?

Will I get through the year without a biopsy?

Will my new book become a best seller?

There’s always these kind of thoughts . . . thinking, questioning, wondering . . .

But then again, there’s another kind of wonder that comes with the new year, the kind described as feeling or expressing admiration and astonishment. The wonder of just being alive; of being able to experience the newness, the freshness. The wonder of having another chance for correction or change. And the new year comes with dreams . . . We all hope for a year of good health, peace, prosperity, and happiness with those we love.

All of this makes that first minute of my brand new year a prayer . . . A prayer of gratitude to the Lord for this brand new year—whatever it holds. And for His promise to walk each day with me. That’s the wonder of it all!

Grace and peace to you,

Mary Emma