My therapist often tells me I am too often unkind to myself. He’s right. More often than not I take shame and guilt into myself. I can always think of things I should have done differently. At times I think I am failing God somehow. Situations I’ve gotten myself into tend to weigh on me. 

So here’s the story: One day, I was getting my hair cut when my stylist asked me what New Year’s resolutions I had made. I responded, “None.” After thinking for a moment, I told her I had decided to be kinder to myself. She began to cry. 

She told me that she needed that. I said, ‘God doesn’t do shame and guilt. God is love and wants us to know his love.’ She continued to weep, fortunately not dropping her tears on my newly shaped hair. She had ‘gotten herself’ into some unfortunate circumstances and was feeling the burden within her. I told her I would pray for her and….more tears. I then prayed for her and told her to embrace God’s love. She responded that she wanted to be more grateful in this life.

As I left the salon I realized I needed to take seriously for myself what I told this young woman. I cannot wallow in Pig Stink like the Prodigal Son that Jesus spoke about in Luke 15. No, God wants better for us. God wants us to flourish, not flounder. 

So every day of my existence I am going to be grateful for how much God loves me. Shame, self-doubt, and guilt are tools of evil turning us against ourselves instead of letting us gratefully receive God’s embrace of love.

There’s my NEW YEAR pledge. I choose love (God’s love).  For me and yes, for others.