Collard Greens, Hawg Jowl, Cornbread, and Black-eyed Peas

Now that we have had time for our hawg jowl and blacked-eyed peas, cornbread, and collared greens to digest, how are our New Year’s resolutions coming? 

Momma always served the poor folks meal in hopes that the peas would bring more pennies and the collards would bring more dollars.  They never did but we did enjoy the food even though daddy said that cooking collards smelled as bad as a dead person did.

New Year’s resolutions usually last as long as the first piece of red velvet last with a cup of coffee.  They last less than trip to the gym and much shorter than the soreness from the exercise.

Have you ever thought who started resolutions?  New Year is the oldest of all holidays.  Ancient Babylon observed it about 4000 years ago. Around 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon or Vernal Equinox (first day of spring).  The beginning of spring is a logical time to start a new year since it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blossoming. January 1, on the other hand, has no astronomical or agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary.

“The tradition of the New Year's Resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar. With two faces, Janus could look back on past events and forward to the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year.
The New Year has not always begun on January 1, and it doesn't begin on that date everywhere today. It begins on that date only for cultures that use a 365-day solar calendar. January 1 became the beginning of the New Year in 46 B.C., when Julius Caesar developed a calendar that would more accurately reflect the seasons than previous calendars had.
The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances. He was always depicted with two faces, one on the front of his head and one on the back. Thus he could look backward and forward at the same time. At midnight on December 31, the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new. The Romans began a tradition of exchanging gifts on New Year's Eve by giving one another branches from sacred trees for good fortune. (answerbag.com/q_view/39353)
In the Middle Ages, Christians changed New Year's Day to December 25, the birth of Jesus. Then they changed it to March 25, a holiday called the Annunciation. In the sixteenth century, Pope Gregory XIII revised the Julian calendar, and the celebration of the New Year was returned to January 1.”

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 3:13-14 KJV)

Black-eyed peas and hawg jowl, collard greens, and cornbread are good food to eat, but as believers, our spiritual nourishment comes from God’s Word.  Resolutions are made to break, while sacrifice last.  There is no good luck, but God marvelous grace and the opportunity to press forward.