Are you a new one?

you are a new you

Ms. Willie is always our last visit. She lives on the top floor of the public-housing apartments that Kay and I deliver supper to on Wednesday afternoons.

With everyone else, we knock on their door, give them a box meal, ask how they’re doing, and move on.

But Ms. Willie is different.

She steps out of her apartment in her nightgown to chat for several minutes. She rarely wants the food because her stomach has been upset. (Because she also has no teeth, we show her what’s easy to chew; sometimes she takes it, sometimes she doesn’t.)

And she never knows who we are.

Every time.

Every week she asks us, “Aren’t y’all new ones?”

We used to say, “No, Ms. Willie. We’re not new. We were here last week, too. Remember?”

But now I’ve started just saying, “Yes, we’re new. I’m Lisa and this is Kay. It’s nice to meet you!”

She then proceeds to tell us how she got her name (from her sweet little ol’ daddy), to ask us to pray about a sister, and eventually to say, “I thank you for coming, but I know you’re busy so I won’t keep you.”

But even though I’m sad her memory is fading further and further away, I’m glad she reminds us that we are new every day.

Today is a new one. And we are new in it. We’re not exactly who we were yesterday. We’re not exactly who we’ll be tomorrow.

We’re refilled with a new measure of grace every morning.

Every morning God wakes us up with a fresh supply. Just as he daily rained down manna for the Israelites in the desert after escaping slavery, so he promises to rain down enough grace to fill us up perfectly each day.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23

As you start a new week, may you remember, too, that you are new today. Everyday. You don’t have to carry around last week’s trash. God already disposed of it. You don’t have to worry about next week’s plans. God’s grace is already prepared for it.

Like new buds that are opening every day now (thank God it’s finally spring!), God opens you up to new possibilities every day, new views, new graces.

Embrace the renewed you. You’ve never been the person you are right now.

Today is a new day and thanks to God’s mercy, you’re a new you in it!

* * *

Where do you hope to see new mercies this week? Let’s talk in the comments.

One-Word-2015-now-Lisanotes

42 thoughts on “Are you a new one?

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      Thank you, Joanne. Alzheimer’s is such a horrible, horrible disease, isn’t it? I hated it when my mother had it, but I did learn a lot through the experience. So many lessons we can learn are always all around us.

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      Yes, that is such a beautiful truth about being a believer in Jesus–He is always making things new. In us. Around us. Thanks for stopping by, Susan. Happy Easter to you too!

  1. June

    Each day has enough worries for it’s own! And, thanks be to God, an abundance of blessings, too! Great Monday morning post, Lisa! Have a blessed week!

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      Yes, Matt 6:33-34 is one of my favorites, June. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Thanks for adding this in.

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      I like looking at things in new ways too, Lisa. And usually it takes somebody or something different to shake me up into doing that. I’m thankful for Ms. Willie being one of those forces in my life.

  2. bluecottonmemory

    This made me smile – that His mercies are new each day – I am new today. My grandmother had dementia – it sounds, though, your friend who meets you anew each week has a sweet, joyful spirit that is always there! You are involved in a wonderful ministry!
    Shalom, Lisa!

  3. Barbara H.

    Neat thought that every day we are different from what we have been and will be. Love that God’s mercies are new every morning.

    We’ve learned to go along with or start on another subject rather than correct or remind my m-i-l, too.

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      I’m sure you and your m-i-l have many of the same conversations over and over. I remember doing that with my mom. It’s sad. But it really is easier once we learn not to be combative about correcting everything. ha.

  4. Jody Collins

    Lisa, the Holy Spirit spoke pretty much these exact words to me this morning….I had a sleepless night, carrying a heavy weight and woke up refreshed by some miracle. I stepped out on the deck with my coffee and saw and heard a robin on the tall tree over our house singing his heart out.
    It’s like I heard God say, “This is a new day. Leave your sorrows where they were and don’t take them into this day. I am here now.”
    My heart was so lifted up.

    Your stories always make me smile–what a giving heart you have!

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      What a wonderful gift from the Lord, Jody! Thanks for sharing that. My sister is often reminded of sweet kisses from God when she sees red birds. I’m not always good at leaving yesterday behind, but I know it is beneficial when I can do it.

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      Thank you, Heather. Ms. Willie has been asking me for a long time if I’m new, but it was only last week that I finally realized that I’m not just making her feel better by saying yes, but that I AM really new. 🙂

  5. Mary

    Oh, Lisa…it has been a couple of weeks since I’ve had a chance to stop by your place. What timing that THIS post was published today!! I needed this. Specifically today…I think you wrote it just for me. Thank you for this beautiful reminder.

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      I’m glad this was what you needed today, Mary. I’ve been keeping up with the parts of your story when you blog. What a horrible ordeal you went through with having headaches for so long! 🙁 I’m sorry, friend. So glad the worst is behind you, and I pray you can’t ever get that twice!

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      Thanks, Beth. Our God is the best, yes? I’m so thankful that he doesn’t give us everything we need on Day 1 and then leave it up to us to apportion it out correctly the rest of our lives. 🙂

  6. Kristin Hill Taylor

    I love this! Especially because my best friend and I will say, “Are you new here?” when one of us (or our husbands) ask a question that we really should already know the answer to. Then we laugh. I even found one of her kids a onesie on it that said, “I’m new here!” All of that to say, I love your perspective and it’s one I’m going to remind my friend about. 🙂 I’m glad to see you linked up at SDG.

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      Oh, how neat to hear all these connections you have with being the “new one.” 🙂 Thanks for sharing these, Kristin! I love how God weaves things in and out of our lives together.

  7. ~ linda

    Oh, I am new every morning. What a blessing and special reminder. I shall recall Ms. Willie more often than you know. I love her and the way you learned to answer her repeated question. And then to glean such a God-given lesson from her. Praising God.
    and Caring through Christ, ~ linda

  8. Sharon

    I watched my father fade away into dementia – to the point that he didn’t know who I was. I am now watching my mother’s memory decline. It’s so very painful. And because it’s painful, I find myself trying (too hard) to correct her. I am beginning to learn the grace of just letting it all go, and letting her just be who she is. I am blessed that she still knows me, and grateful for the conversations that we’re still able to have.

    So, Lisa, this post really spoke to me. And yes, I am greatly encouraged by the fact that God is shaping me each and every day. Transforming me into something new. Renewing me.

    GOD BLESS!

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      I’m so sorry that you’ve had a double dose of dementia in your life, Sharon. 🙁 That’s very difficult emotionally. I’m glad you’re trying to make the most out of the time you have with your mom. I’m sure it means more to her than you (or she!) can even know now. You’re an angel, Sharon.

  9. Joanna Sormunen

    Yes, we are new, every day, thanks be to God! There is a new opportunity to get closer to God, every day. And every day He changes us and makes us more like Him, even if we don’t even notice it.
    What a sweet lady and such a sweet thing you do for her, Lisa!

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      “even if we don’t even notice it” – that brings me comfort, Joanna, because often I don’t notice the change in myself. But God is changing us even when we’re not aware. Blessings to you.

  10. Michele Morin

    Thank you for lifting that story out of your life and sharing it here. It’s wonderful that you share yourself with those needy folks. Blessed to read your words at Soli Deo Gloria sisterhood.

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      I really don’t do much, Michele, so don’t give credit to me. I don’t even know who cooks all that food every week! And then other people box it up. Kay and I get the best of the deal–we get to deliver it. 🙂

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      It’s a good reminder to myself too, Dianna, to not lose patience with Ms. Willie. Of course she has such a sweet spirit that it’s easy to be kind to her. Hugs back to you, friend.

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      Ms. Willie is such a pleasant woman. I got to talk with her some last night and she actually was excited to take some protein drinks that my friend Kay brought her. I thank God for the way he places people in our lives!

    1. LisaNotes Post author

      Yes, it encourages me to think that if I my mind fades one day, God can still use me however he wishes to show Himself to others. Have a blessed Easter, Jean!

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