From The Manse Window

LIKE many others, I find myself making the same resolutions every New Year.

Chief among them is to lose the weight I will inevitably gain over Christmas.

Unfortunately, this resolution in particular is proving more difficult to realise as the years pass. It seems much easier to gain than to shed!

But even if our resolutions are doomed to failure – some even before the end of January – it’s still good to have goals.

Something to focus on; a target to aim for.

But what about spiritual goals?

We may say, “I’m going to get through the whole of the Bible this year”, or “I’m going to spend more time in prayer”, or “I’m going to volunteer to do more in church or in the community”.

But perhaps, too often, we are happy to just coast along, expecting that things will happen for us.

“I’ll go to church every week and try to do good things,” we say. Which is a fine goal in itself.

But why don’t we want to grow in our understanding and experience of God?

Do we just accept that this level is where it’ll always be and we’re quite happy with it?

Jesus’s first followers were always pressing on to higher and better things.

These were people who knew they were loved and accepted by God through his grace – and not by their own efforts to be good.

But they understood that they were being called to seek his face; to grow, to develop their relationship with him, to become what he wanted them to be.

They did not consider passively sitting back, coasting along, expecting that things would happen for them.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart,” God says through the prophet Jeremiah.

Do you remember when Paul talked about building on a foundation?

The foundation is Christ, but as we live our lives, we can either build on that with hay and stubble and things that will not last, or we can build with gold and precious stones and all manner of things that will endure.

God is always calling us to go deeper, to know him better so that we might be more useful and powerful in the service of the kingdom. Now, that’s something worth pursuing.

Once again this year, I resolved to lose the weight I put on over Christmas.

But I also resolved to grow in my faith, and seek to know God better. ■ surprise her that way, with the diamonds.” “Well, although he was dishonest, in the end everything has certainly worked out happily.”

“Hugh Farrington has been immensely generous, sharing it all out. And I suppose he’s right, that the fortune would never have been uncovered if it hadn’t been for the Brackens. I wonder how it will be divided?”

“Who knows. But there’s plenty to go round.”

Ben gathered her into his arms.

“Even without the rise in salary that Robert promised, it seems we already have our fortune,” he said, tenderly cradling her face in his hands and kissing her.

Jenny rested her head against the back of the chair, the firelight warming her as she thought back to all that had happened that day.

A minute later she was startled by a knock on the door.

“Come in,” she called, too tired to get up.

“Hello, Jenny. How are you feeling?”

“Eleanor! You’ve caught me.”

“Well, I should hope you’re resting. You really must stop working so hard! And you are not to worry about money. We owe you such a debt of gratitude, and Robert and I are thrilled about the baby!”

“You’re such a wonderful friend.” Jenny smiled. “Thank you for everything.”

“Not a bit of it. Look, something came for you. I’ll let you get on – it looks exciting!”

She gave Jenny an envelope.

“Thank you, Eleanor. Oh, my goodness – it’s from Emily!”

Eleanor left and Jenny opened the pretty card. How she admired and missed her sister, who was so talented and accomplished, with such a spirit of adventure.

She was glad that they’d begun to correspond more frequently.

Dearest Jenny,

I hope and pray that you and Ben have been well. As I wrote in my last letter, I’m overcome with happiness about your baby! I also admit I feel envious. Imagine, my little sister starting a family.

I’m looking forward to becoming an auntie and having a new little member of the family to love. I’ve heard from Sarah all about the Countess and their new baby, and the races, too!

It seems that there are always surprises in store, so I suppose anything could happen to me in the future.

But life has been enormously fulfilling, running my own shop. And now, the chaps that rented the rooms to me moved their businesses to another part of the city. With James backing me, I’ve actually bought them out!

I know it’s taking a risk, but I need more space, and must take on more employees to keep up with demand. But everyone tells me I need a holiday, and that they can keep the shop for a while without me.

That brings me to my biggest news. How would you feel about my coming for a visit? I’ll be longing to meet my little niece or nephew, and to spend lots of time with you, dearest Jenny, and the family.

I miss you all so very much. And it’s my dearest desire that I will soon be reunited with you again . . .

Jenny read on through happy tears. She closed her eyes, thinking of Emily, and all the family together once more.

She remembered the day that she and Ben had arrived at Orchard End, and had made their way up the tangled path, with no idea what lay ahead.

Together, they’d created a new life for themselves. As had they all – Emily, her family, the Farringtons, Eleanor and Robert.

She felt a kick, and smiled to herself. It was going to be a very special Christmas, and a New Year more sparkling than the brightest of diamonds.

The End.