Write Well in the New Year!

Regardless of whether you are writing a simple note to a friend (and people still do like to get hand written notes, not just emails or Facebook messages), or you need to turn in a major research paper (see research sites at the end of this entry), write well. That seems like a simple request, but truly we have become such a fast-paced society that we don't stop to weigh the meaning and sound of our words ... the impact they can have in our writing. I'm so impressed when, in a television show, a World magazine editorial, or even in recent Christmas cards, weighty words are selected. Weighty words are ones that make you stop and think and consider their meaning, words that linger.

I came across this poem today and I hope it will encourage you to do "all things" (including writing) well for the NEW YEAR!

Another year is dawning;
Dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting,
Another year with Thee;
Another year of progress,
Another year of praise,
Another year of proving
Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies,
Of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness
In the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning
Upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting,
Of quiet, happy rest.


Another year of service,
Of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training
For holier work above.
Another year is dawning:
Dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in heaven,
Another year for Thee.

RESEARCH PAPER TIP: Use resources such as World Digital Library (wdl.org/en/), the New York Public Library, which contains 700,000 images, (kigitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/index.cfm), and - for South Carolinians - scdiscus.org (password: findit), which has hundreds of periodicals to pull from.