by Kelly Robinson December 31, 2016 5 Comments

Do you all eat anything 'lucky' on New Year’s Day? My mom used to serve us black-eyed peas. Ick! I ate them every year in the hopes that it would be my 'lucky' year. I recently saw a graphic in a magazine that listed "Nine Foods for a Lucky New Year”. Of course the nasty black-eyed peas were listed first, then some other gross things (in my opinion) like a whole roasted fish, cooked greens (collards, cabbage, chard), however, the one item that caught my eye was ring-shaped foods like bagels, donuts, and bundt cakes. NOW we are talkin’! I think I’ll be going with ring-shaped foods on New Year’s Day.

In this new beginning for us all, this clean slate, this fresh start, I want to talk about our endings. About ending well. I am a hospice volunteer and within this last week I said goodbye to a woman who ended well. It was an honor and a privilege to have met her and her family and to witness a woman who despite losing her sight from macular degeneration and not being able to walk in her later years bear such a strong, sweet faith. Her demeanor was warm, loving and welcoming, despite her condition. She even asked if she could pray for me at the end of one visit.  She was selfless and she knew what her purpose was. She ended well. She ended well because she knew the Lord intimately and shared Him with whomever crossed her path. She ended well because she made wise use of her days despite being limited in her physical body. She ended well because when her life on earth was over, within that minute of her last breath on earth, her sight immediately returned and was face-to-face with her Creator God. She was face-to-face with Jesus Himself. She was finally home.

So, my challenge to you, as you anticipate this new beginning, this new year, is to please consider how your life will be ending. Not to sound morbid or anything, I think it’s good to think about why you are here, what your purpose is in this world, and what you want your obituary to say about you.  If you can solidify that in your head and heart, then you can truly live for Christ and end your life well. If you have yet to surrender all to Jesus Christ and turn your life over to Him, then I pray that you will consider doing that in this new year.  We are not promised another day here on earth, each day is a gift.





Kelly Robinson
Kelly Robinson

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5 Responses

Maria Martinez
Maria Martinez

February 04, 2017

Thank you for the reminder about what we want to accomplish in our life. I also did that exercise of reading my obituary and asking myself what it would say. I’m so encouraged by your words. Thank you.

katherine van horn
katherine van horn

January 23, 2017

Wonderfully written, sweet friend. May we all finish well.
cos

Ami
Ami

January 19, 2017

Sign me up for the ring shaped New Year good luck program!

We can never pray enough for those who don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior. I know I need to do more of that. Happy to know that she finished well and is now with our Savior! Love your heart for the hospice calling you have been chosen for. Keep calm and Share On! the good news of Jesus, that is ;)

Nellie
Nellie

January 02, 2017

Wish I could have met that woman! My sister in law has the same eye condition. Thank you for ministering to people who are dying. That’s a gift! I agree with Kevin and think I should start the Ring Shaped Diet immediately:)!

Kevin
Kevin

January 02, 2017

Thank you for the inspiration and the testimony of our friend who finished well. I’m going to take your advice and try the Ring-Shaped Food Diet, beginning with Krispy Kreme donuts! Happy New Year.

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