The final days of 2013 are upon us with the year seeming to have flown by. Another New Year is knocking at the door with all of its opportunities. For some this was not a great year; however, the time to start over begins in just a few short hours. Many feel surviving the past year was a great accomplishment. However, most have done more than survive. We were blessed with the gift of time, something that none of us are able to add to or take away.

A day of life is a gift from God above and one that should be looked upon as a true blessing. We are not guaranteed tomorrow and today could be all we have. Today was the last day of life for some and the first day of life for newborns. One might think that not knowing would make it hard to live life, never knowing when the next breath we take could be our last. However, to those of us who know who holds our future comes the realization that the last breath taken here on earth will give way to the first breath in heaven. By having this assurance, it is much easier to live our life knowing the best is yet to come.

As we prepare for this New Year by making resolutions to spend more time with family, lose weight, stop smoking, exercise more, etc. maybe striving to live one day at a time will be a better plan of action. Instead of worrying about what will happen in this New Year, take each day that we are given and make the best of it. Begin each new day being thankful that we have arrived for another day, asking how we can make this day better for another person.

Each day that we live in 2014 gives us another opportunity to be a better person, to love one another, to carry a brother’s or sister’s burden, and even to enjoy the many blessings that God has given to us. Once the day is over, we cannot live in the past and wish that we had done things differently. Yesterday is finished and tomorrow may never come; we must live today and make the most of each day..

Enter into 2014 with this promise:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Randy Garrison is the president and publisher of the Hartselle Enquirer.