If Only We Will

As a new year dawns in our lives,

It’s time to give thanks for bounty of God’s blessings.

If only we will.

It’s time to appreciate the greatest gifts of all,

The love of our God, our family and dear friends.

If only we will.

It’s time to lend a hand, to be a gift to others,

To touch some lives with our God-given talents.

If only we will.

It’s time to celebrate life,
 to give thanks for the time we’ve been given,

And to be prepared -- should we be called home today.
If only we will.

It’s time to love our animals,

Sweet kitty-cat kisses and sloppy puppy-dog noses.

If only we will.

It’s time to be grateful for our health,

To complain less, to value and cherish more.

If only we will.

It’s time to celebrate our freedom,

To give thanks and pray for the men and
women protecting our country.

If only we will.

It’s time to recognize the splendor of our creation.
To appreciate the fresh air we breathe,

the beauty that surrounds us.

If only we will.

It’s time for resolve, to challenge ourselves --

To love more, to do more,
to become all we were created to be.

If only we will.

It’s time for forgiveness, to release our hearts from bondage,

To extend the grace that is shown to us.

If only we will.

It’s a time for joyful enthusiasm and happiness,

To laugh loud and often --
the kind of laughter that makes others smile.

If only we will.

It’s a time for shedding tears, for cleansing our hearts, 

For extending compassion and kindness
to those suffering and in pain.

If only we will.

It’s a time to humble ourselves, To erase blame and to
wonder at nothing done against you.

If only we will.

It’s a time of quiet reflection, to realize our souls live on forever,

And to wonder at the legacy we will leave behind.

If only we will.

It’s a time of remembrance, for the wonderment and
innocence of our childhood,

and the many wonderful memories we’ve made since.

If only we will.

It’s time to strengthen our faith,

To worry less, to trust more.

If only we will.

It’s time for beautiful music, to lose ourselves in the moment,
To allow the shivers that run down our spine to engulf us.

If only we will.

It’s a time to be on our knees,

To pray for our world and our leaders in these uncertain times.

If only we will.

It’s time for complete surrender,

God LOVES to love us, His embrace can be felt every minute,
every day.

If only we will.