A New Year A New You

By Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliaims

I think we’ve all made that New Year’s resolution. You know the one I’m talking about. Where we put away all those things we don’t like about ourselves and work at becoming the person we truly wish we were. The most popular of these has to be to lose that extra weight we gained during the past year.

Believe me, I’m in that boat with you, sailing down (or is it up?) that river of fat. Not a pretty picture at all is it? Not from where I’m sitting. And I will admit, that is definitely one of the things on my new me list for this next new year. I was pretty successful last year. I began on New Year’s Day and by May, I had lost about twenty to thirty pounds, depending on the day of the week and how cantankerous my scales wished to be on any given day.

Somehow, at least half of those lost pounds managed to become found within the past few months. All that hard work, for nothing. Not quite, but almost right back to my starting place.

This year, I hope to do things differently. My family is joining me in this venture and I think that with support for one another, we may all succeed. All prayers for success are greatly appreciated.

The Magnificat--Mary's Song of Praise

by Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is called The Magnificat. In sung Latin, this is pronounced mahn-yee-fee-kaht, emphasis on the second syllable. The words are found in Luke 1:46-55. These are the recorded words of Mary at learning that she is to be the mother of the Son of God.

I cannot imagine being the very young Mary and hearing that she has been chosen from among all the women on the face of the earth to carry within her, God’s only Son, the Savior of the world, the long-awaited Messiah. Her words are so beautiful, I am in awe of her ability to express so eloquently what she felt at the time.

Seeing Jesus With the Eyes of My Heart

by Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams

Many of you know that I recently underwent cataract surgery. While I can see things that are close-up, things more than four or five feet away are blurry. Forget seeing those things that are in the far distance. Many return visits to the doctor’s office confirm that I was left with a not-so-unusual problem, but one that doesn’t normally occur this soon after surgery. Most people who develop this do not do so until one to five years post-surgery. Leave it to me to have it right after. Par for the course, if you knew me.

One of the major issues accompanying this problem─blurriness on the new lenses─is that lights halo and starburst so much that I cannot see at night. My vision is just the pits once the sun goes down and car lights, street lights, and this season, Christmas lights, go on. They all spread to the point of distortion, causing discomfort in my eyes. I even have difficulty reading on my Kindle and working on my computer screen. Not good for a writer.

Missing in the Manger

by Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Williams home. We’re in Florida for Christmas this year. After more than thirty years down here, it doesn’t seem odd any more to see Christmas lights on palm trees. As a matter of fact, it can be quite beautiful. But this year, I’ve noticed a flamboyance of flamingos wearing little Santa hats. I have to say, that’s not my style, but my best friend, no doubt, has one.

We live in a little villa, perfect for those of us who are of a certain age. The kids are grown, and if you’re lucky, out on their own. One of ours is living with us, and while we are delighted to be able to give him temporary housing, it does make things a bit more cramped than we had anticipated. Especially in a small space.