May this New Year
find you near to those you love;
even though the miles may keep you far away,
may you be as close as light is to day
within each other’s hearts.

May this New Year
bring you wisdom and peace,
and may they both be gained
through the least pain possible.

May this New Year
teach you the most needed lessons,
and may they come in the ways
of grace and kindness,
and may blindness never be curse or cause.

May this New Year’s Day
give you pause to remember the year just past,
and may you find a soothing healing for all of its pain,
a humble gratitude for all of its gains,
and a deep, rich warming from every smile.

May this New Year’s Day
not be some brash beginning,
a blind believing in the solution of resolution,
but rather a faith-and-hope-anchored continuance
of good-becoming-great,
and the polishing of some well-used traits
founded in the fineness of your better nature.

May this New Year bring you:
renewed courage to be a blessing—even on your worst day,
renewed determination to forgive—especially those who do not deserve nor desire it,
renewed commitment to love—yet with wisdom and discretion,
renewed depth of hope—especially when mornings dawn cold and gray,
renewed vision—to see the unseen yet not be blinded by grandeur or plainness,
renewed power of faith—that never lets the path determine the destination.

And may you bring to and throughout this New Year
the best of all that is beautiful
within your heart, mind and spirit.
And may you treat all others
as you would be treated.

H. Arnett
1/1/15