It was a sad day in the
Oestreich household this past month. After thirty five and a half years we let
go of our landlines and went to using just our cell phones. No longer are there
any phones attached to the walls of our home. No longer are we restricted as to
what room can we make or take phone calls or check voice messages.
What this also meant is that
we also let go of our old phone number. One of our adult children exclaimed;
“But that is the only number I’ve ever known for the house!”
It also meant that we no
longer go through the ritual of checking our phone for voice messages as soon
as we come into the house (after being gone for awhile). I should note that
even after two weeks we still go to the spot where the old phone hung on the
wall…
I also (in this spirit of out
with old and in with the new) just changed my email provider. After twenty two
years I figured that it was time for a change; out with the old and in with the
new…sort of…because I will probably since keep occasionally (daily) checking
the old account...
As I informed my friends, the
overwhelming response was; “people still use that provider?” In other words;
“it’s about time that you caught up with the rest of us!”
Generally, I like change; I
like variety, I like to take out the old and bring in the new…sort of…
otherwise I wouldn’t still be using the old email service. I kept it (mostly)
because my business cards still had the old email address as well as our old
phone number.
New email address, new phones,
new phone numbers, and new business cards.
The phrase; “Out with the old and in with the new” generally means that
it is time to make some changes by getting rid of old stuff and replacing it
with new stuff, and that doing this is the best thing to do.
But as I
ponder the New Year that is approaching, I realize that not everything that is
old should be tossed out to make way for something new.
If I got rid of
everything that was old in my life in order to bring in something new, I would
lose some very valuable items in my life; both physical items as well as habits
or disciplines that have been assets in my life.
Habits such as
getting up early enough every day so that I can have daily devotions, shower,
shave, eat, and have plenty of time to do so and arrive where I need to be
ahead of time.
Because our house is
over one hundred and five years old, we keep items that are old because they
still work, look cool, and some consider that they have additional value by
calling them antiques.
If I was going to
apply ‘out with the old and in with the new’ to my marriage simply because
Cathy is starting to have winkles… (at least that is what I think I see when I
squint as I try to focus on her face)…
Then I would lose all
of the relational equity that has come from years of going through good times
as well as harder times.
And, I would have to
start all over again…and again…and again as I apply this philosophy ever so
often when it ‘makes sense’ or would be convenient to do so.
No, that is not what
the phrase is saying.
Out
with the old and in with the new has more has more to do with changing
attitudes or ways of thinking and replacing it with other (hopefully better)
ones, such as stopping your old way of doing something in order to adopt new
ideas.
In other words, today
can be a new day to reevaluate how your life is going and start taking steps
towards making changes.
If you don’t like
your house or furniture or decorations, etc. start making a list to determine
what you can and cannot afford to do at this time. Sometimes a coat of paint
can make a huge difference in our mindset without breaking the bank!
If you don’t like
your marriage or other relationships in your life, start making a list to
determine what you can and cannot afford to do at this time. Get help; get
advice from others who have your best interests in mind and will help you to
fight to restore relationships, not just toss them aside. It is amazing to me
just how fickle the heart can be and how quickly lusts seem to blind our eyes
to love.
With God’s help our
hearts can once again return to love…in with the old and out with the new. When
I try on my own to fix the problem, I fail miserably. It was only when I put situations
in my life into the hands of the Lord that the transformation is
possible.
Much more awaits us all as
new seasons come and go. Instead of being anxious to get someone or something
new, we need to be grateful for all that we were able to do and see.
So
how does your life look at this moment? God wants you to stop, turn to Him and
to let Him make things new.
God says in His Word
(the Bible) that He will make us new when we come to Jesus: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have
passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians
5:17)
God
promises: “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on
Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and
Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For
“whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)
Need some help? Call Toll-Free: 1-877-2GRAHAM (1-877-247-2426)
HAPPY NEW YEAR