By  LPJ

As most might agree, keeping a new year’s resolution is never easy. Always, a resolution is aimed to improve life in many ways. The intent is admirable, proof of one’s propensity to raise the bar on any standard for the sake of quality, whether it be for health, ambition, relationship, peace of mind, spiritual growth, or purpose in any aspect of living.

In recent past years, mine has been physical – exercise. Not always followed, but at least I can say that toward that end, I joined the exercise class at the Y last year. The activity is motivating, especially watching others with the same goal I have, working their best to improve energy and flexibility. The encouragement is important to me.

However, the challenge is keeping it up. I stopped going to the Y around the holidays. The excuses varied, from too busy, too tired from all the holiday frenzy, to pains on my foot. So today, I resolved to go back to that resolution starting with tomorrow’s exercise class, while keeping my fingers crossed that this determination persists.

The more serious thought for the new year is prompted by shock over what has happened in Los Angeles due to the wildfires.

The devastation has caused billions, but more than the loss of material goods is the heartbreaking reality that victims are faced with rebuilding their lives in the midst of the realization that most of what they had worked for is gone. Except for those who lost loved ones in the fire, families find great comfort that their lives have been spared, and their loved ones are still with them. The wildfire tragedy in LA, considered the worst in US history, drills in the value of life over material goods. And yes, while desperation arises from finding that much or most of one’s gains and life works have vanished, there still is hope that life will go on with the determination to make it somehow, with family.

Family. The new year and all that’s happening in the world resurge thoughts about the value of family. Family is our sanctuary. It is our refuge from the chaos and uncertainties of this world, our source of security, the essence of our comfort and joy, truly, God’s gift to be grateful for.

Maybe this is big dream, or tall ambition. It is time to rebuild this broken world, and the first thing is to reinforce love – first, for God, and then for family – and then, for neighbors/others, and as God commands, love our enemies, too. Profound thoughts for the new year, you might agree.

And still about love. My family and I started a modest charity in Naga City, the place I originated from in the Philippines. The JMP Group (for Jacob-Manuel-Pandes family) aims to share blessings with the poor and disadvantaged, and especially, the hungry street children and abandoned elderly. With our humble and modest humanitarian projects, we start small, but our hearts are big. Just maybe, we can encourage other families to share their blessings, in kindness and humility, with those in need. This, we do in love.

Love, that’s the message in spotlight for the world this new year. And what greater love is there than that which comes from God in His son Jesus.

Linda P. Jacob