Turn Over a New Leaf?

     Some of the hardest things to understand in language learning are phrases, like "get a grip!" Or "don't fly off the handle." You get the idea.   
    We used to live across the street from a police station in Bangkok. We made friends with policemen, especially those who wanted to practice their English. One young man would take his breaks in our parking lot, sit on the steps of our building, play with Philip who was a baby then, and try to talk with me. He was actually pretty good.
     This young man struggled with gambling, smoking, and other activities he revealed that he believed were not in his own best interest. He said he wanted to change his life. When he learned the phrase, "Turn over a new leaf," he decided that was what he wanted to do.
     He talked about this concept over and over. When I would ask how that was going, he would reply, "Oh, I'm going to turn over a new leaf." I'm not quite sure he ever got around to it.
     Today---as almost every January 1, most of us want to "turn over a new leaf" in some way or another. Making resolutions about actions alone often doesn't work. If we can truly understand the ways we think and why, we have a better chance at success.
     A Word from the Apostle Paul says, "Let God change the way you think."
Hmmmm...that sounds like a starting place. What does that mean to you?
Look forward to hearing from you.

A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MARVIN HELSEL JR...67 today...