“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
2 Corinthians 5:17

I didn’t sleep well last night. It was a day full of excitement and instead of enjoying a relaxing evening, I was sitting in front of my computer much later than normal, “on” for more than an hour of moderating a webinar. When I finally made my way upstairs in the pitch black - because no one can quite navigate a totally dark house for fear of waking up her family like a mother - my mind was racing. That last game of Candy Crush before setting my alarm probably didn’t help.

I woke up exhausted. My daughter refused to have anything to do with my husband, or my brilliant idea that maybe she should just come snuggle with me in our bed. She wanted more milk, a specific episode of Mickey Mouse - one with Donald, but not too much Donald - she wanted to wear a certain sweater, and then immediately had a meltdown of epic proportions because SWEATER.

I yelled. I sat on the floor of her playroom and had my own tantrum because I was exhausted, and too little sleep always results in too many big emotions. And she said “sorry, Mommy” and sat down to read books to her stuffed animal friends. Which was fine. Until she ran out to the living room and came back with a new book.

“I walk carefully Mommy. Heavy book.” Her little feet in bright white socks navigated around the sea of endless crayons, blocks, and stickers. Once her favorite baby doll was carefully and meticulously placed in “just” the right spot, she looked up at me. Big brown eyes that mirror my own.

“I read you Jesus book, Mommy. Jesus love you.”

To my daughter? Every story in that Bible says the same thing. At the turn of the page “Jesus love you,” and occasionally “Jesus strong!” In the midst of my mess, Jesus spoke to my heart. In the sing-song voice of a toddler, He broke through my exhaustion, my emotions, and my fears.

He loves me. Jesus loves me. On my most glorious days and in the middle of my biggest meltdowns, He loves me. Not just enough to get through that one challenging hour in the morning, but enough to promise that He will make me a new creation - He HAS made me a new creation. My life, though full of very human faults and failures, has been resurrected into a life more wonderful and full of grace than anything I could have experienced without Him. In my weakness, I’m not left to return to my old life because I couldn’t keep everything together. Instead, God is made strong.

As we celebrate the fresh start of a new year, I will rejoice in the Truth that my old life has gone - the new is here!