A New Decade

Mindbaffling.
10 years ago, I had graduated Junior High.
10 years ago, I dated Tiffany.
10 years ago, I had entered into High School.
10 years ago, I had thought that life was full of endless possibilities and that I could grow up to be whatever I wanted to be.

How perception changes in a decade.

10 years ago, I thought I'd be forever young. Forever athletic. Forever eating whatever I wanted to eat, doing whatever I wanted to do. Not having a care in the world.

And now 10 years later, I sit here munching on pears and low calorie turkey sandwiches. Avoiding triglycerides and transfats. Trying to eat as much high density lipids while cutting down on my low density lipids. Fatigued by exercise from the previous day. Worrying about the customer count and net sales for today, tomorrow, the month, the year. Worrying about marriage. Worrying about the spiritual lives of my church kids. Worrying about my parents. Worrying about my own health.

10 years seem so long, but looking back... it really doesn't seem that long at all. It seemed like yesterday when I graduated from Junior High.

But then I look back carefully and notice the grace and favor of my Lord. How the Lord has blessed us with Subway. How I wasn't able to apply to any UCs but was forced to go to SJSU only to have my mom get a minor heart attack. Her recovery was swift, our family was drawn closer together and to Him, and I realized that if I wasn't going to SJSU, I would have never been home to take her to the hospital that day. Grace amazing.

How I've struggled so much with my faith but He is constant and faithful. How He never lets me drown in my struggles but always pulls me out.

So despite the worries and concerns that lie ahead, I trust in Him to guide me. I know He is gracious, merciful and faithful. If I obey, and if I can muster up faith the size of a mustard seed, He has promised me that even mountains will move.

This decade, I want even more change. I want to train my body to be healthier, stronger, more fit. I want to train my mind to be unchangeable, focused on Him. I want my heart to be His heart. I want to eat healthier. I want to change my habits, sleeping earlier, waking up earlier. I want to train my voice to be even better. I want to better myself on the guitar, piano, drums, and electric. I want to enjoy God's word more and more. I want to hopefully find the "one", get married, have children. I want to serve, to love, to be knowledgable, to be wise. I want to serve my parents for they have given me so much in two and a half decades.

But most importantly, I want to love Him with all my heart, mind, strength, and soul. And I want to obey His commands, and do His will.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.