Goodbye year of the YOLO...

New Year's has become a tradition of looking back on your life (usually the past year, at least) and thinking about good times, and times you never want to relive. We often think about what happened in that certain moment of clarity, opposed to all of the deciding factors up to that "Ah-ha!" or "Oh crap!" moment. For instance, when you stepped on the scale and realize how much more you weigh than ever before. We begin freaking out over the number and how it could have gotten so bad. Or blame the Holidays...it's a given, right? We don't think about all the times we helped ourselves to extra, ate past a certain time, or skipped a meal (that does make a difference!)
We wake up in a drunken stupor and wonder what happened...how it got that far out of control, and vow to never drink that much anymore!   
Or, how about the year of the Y.O.L.O (you only live once)?
2013 was all about making rash decisions and not thinking about the consequences. There are a lot of flaws in this logic, in my own personal opinion, and a lot of people agree with me. The thing is, you do only get one life here on Earth...why would you want to cause more damage than good? If you are a Christian, you know that there is life after death. But, I am honestly confused. If you believe that there is nothing after you die...nothing at all...why would you destroy: Your body? Your confidence? Your mind? Your relationships?
We think, I shouldn't have eaten that. I shouldn't have drank that. I shouldn't have said that. But, we end up going back for more. You are literally saying this moment is more important than the rest of my life.

Coming from a place similar to all of the above, I will always have the choice of how to have a good time. And the truth is, having fun is better when you are smarter about it. If I don't over eat, I have energy to spend more  time with my friends. If I don't drink alcohol, I don't jeopardize my respect for others, myself, or the respect they have for me. I am able to build deep relationships that go further from a good time. 

 "Teach the older men to have self-control, to be serious, and to be wise. They must be strong in faith, in love, and in patience. Also, teach the older women to live the way those who serve the Lord should live. They should not go around saying bad things about others or be in the habit of drinking too much. They should teach what is good. By doing this they will teach the younger women to love their husbands and children. They will teach them to be wise and pure, to take care of their homes, to be kind, and to be willing to serve their husbands. Then no one will be able to criticize the teaching God gave us.

 In the same way, tell the young men to be wise. You should be an example for them in every way by the good things you do. When you teach, be honest and serious. And your teaching should be clearly right so that you cannot be criticized. Then anyone who is against you will be ashamed. There will not be anything bad they can say about us."Titus 2:2-8

And lastly...You have to think about children. Any child close to your life. How do you want them to grow up? What hurt have you felt, that you do not want them to experience? What do you want them to think is okay?
I can "experience life" all I want....but my children will see that. And when I realize that it was a mistake or something I would never want someone to go through, my kids will already think that is how life is supposed to be going.

Living a life full of grace is more rewarding than any temporary thing here on the planet. If you are a skeptic, try it.


P.S: You are not temporary. God can use you for more. Always.
--Ashley