There are countless Points of Beginning in our lives. There is the day we are conceived. There is the day we take our first breath. Parents long for their baby’s first smile and first steps. There is the first day of school, the first friend. Some Points of Beginning also signify an end. There is high school and graduation, theoretically a defining end to childhood and an entrance into adulthood. There is college graduation, an end to years of study and the beginning of a job search. There is marriage, the end of a single life and the beginning of placing another’s needs ahead of your own. There is January first, the day we traditionally mark the beginning of the New Year.

Our most important Point of Beginning is the day we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. From that day forward, the Holy Spirit is our ready guide to help us live our lives in a way that expresses our appreciation for Christ’s sacrifice. He helps us know God’s boundary lines for us and provides us with the desire to live within those boundaries.

Every month I will encourage you to “Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle you know nothing about.”  

Each new day…in fact, each new moment…can be a Point of Beginning, walking more closely with Jesus and providing the kindness and graciousness the world around us is longing for.

My precious mother-in-law was definitely one of those people. She died at age 97. When she would come south to visit the last few years before she passed away, she knew I visited the nursing home, and she would say to me, “Let’s go cheer up those old folks,” and off we would go. She was always happy and ready to help others by going to the grocery store or pharmacy for those not able – even though she was much older than they. She was my role model.

Another person who touched me in a special way was my recently deceased sister-in-law. Judy was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in her 20s.

She had two young daughters and an active life. She would be in the hospital sometimes for a month or more between periods of remission. Judy was also active in her church, and this is what sustained her. 

I remember visiting her just a few years ago, while she was refinishing their hardwood floors herself. She used a walker at this time, but would scoot on her derriere and sand one plank at a time until she eventually had done the entire floor over a period of time. 

What determination and perseverance! 

Judy wrote two books about MS and used the proceeds to fund a non-profit for MS patients in crisis. She was a dedicated advocate for others living with MS and was responsible for forming several support groups across the country.  Judy fought a brave battle with MS for 41 years until God called her home on December 2, 2015.

When I get discouraged and want to give up, I think especially of these two precious ladies and how God was the center of their lives. I try not to worry about the future. I am thankful for each day and live it to the fullest. “One today is worth two tomorrows”.