My brother sent out the following about his son (my nephew), recently diagnosed autistic. His email has sparked much response including a sermon topic. May these thoughts also bless you.
Ezra sings the following:
"We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New You! Good tidings to you, wherever you are, good tidings at Christmas and a Happy New You! We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New You!"
Considering that in July, Ezra had a vocabulary under 40 words and hardly spoke at all, that’s amazing. To me it’s also profound. Instead of wishing you all a Happy New Year (so common, so predictable, so un-Ezra) I now wish everyone a Happy New You! Your new year may not be what you’re hoping for or very happy, but your New You, I hope it exceeds all your expectations and your circumstances. May your New You be happy. May it be more kind, more helpful, more beautiful, and more wonderful. May it be everything you ever wished for and everything those around you begged God for. May you be new and renewed and feel brand new and better than you ever knew. May your “After” pictures always be better than your “Before” pictures. When the New Year becomes old and tired, may You still be New. Happy Birthday! Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Happy New You!
