Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19 (NKJV)
This was my morning devotion, and also something I wrote a LONG time ago. Perhaps it is time to revisit old lessons?
11/21/11: I didn’t realize that I’d taken the “New Year, New You” thing quite so seriously. I also didn’t realize a) how long my hair was before I cut it, and b) how letting it go would literally change my head (inside AND out) when 2 hours later so much of it was on the floor.Right on the heels of my birthday celebration blog (the day after…) I cut my hair. I discovered that my longest loc was 25” and when I averaged it out, cutting an average of 7” off each of my 70 locs (I have a few short ones that didn’t get clipped), I’d left over 40’ of hair on the floor. I felt free. I felt fresh, I felt renewed.
A dear friend taught me something new that day (I love that my friends constantly enrich my life….what a blessing). In Hebrew tradition, when a woman dons a new outfit or does something else dramatic to her look, the blessing is offered, “Titchadesh!” It is interpreted as “wear it in good health,” but literally means “May you be renewed.”
Look out, folks, I’m feelin’ new! I felt such a powerful cuteness getting out of the chair. I even threatened to change my cell phone ring tone to “Whip My Hair” by Willow Smith (my children vetoed that idea, but it made me giggle). I feel a little more fearless, a little more edgy, a little more bold.I am thankful that no matter what challenges arise in my life, there are moments of Grace; blessings strewn upon my rocky path.
For the children of Israel, in the midst of war and captivity in Babylon, the prophet offered the following word from the Lord….”Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth?”
So, lighter, sassier, more encouraged by and less afraid of the open road, I’m doin’ new. Lord, I thank You that You gave me no spirit of fear, so as long as my hand is in Yours. I might slip, but I’ll never fall. Shoot, I might even sashay.
Since it’s my New Year, I’m choosing to give out the gifts. Go be fearless. Go be sassy. Go be free. And as you go, remember, how much is in your cup: You are filled to overflowing. You are both blessed, and a blessing. And either, or both, are sufficient evidence that God is Good.
Chelle A Wilson 