Don't Quit your Resolution to Grow Close to God

As many begin to abandon their New Year's resolutions, Shelly Henley Kelly reminds us to persevere in our relationship with God.  

When my daughter was three years old she wanted to take dancing lessons — primarily because we’d just spent a year watching her older sister take them weekly. But once we got her into the lessons, she decided she didn’t like following a routine. Why should someone else tell her how to move her arms and legs? She just wanted to dance with the music. About halfway into the four-month season, she was frustrated and bored and wanted to quit. 

No, we firmly said, you wanted to try this, and we signed you up. You have to finish what you’ve started; just finish out the season. Those were some of the longest weeks I can remember. With much grumbling and complaining, she attended every class. Yet she learned the lesson of perseverance and it served her well throughout her teen years. 

A New Year's resolution 

This experience comes to mind each January when I realize I’ve impulsively made a New Year’s Resolution. Many of us start out with great intentions and never consciously intend to quit, but slowly our resolve begins to slip and before you know it we’ve made enough excuses, look around one morning and realize we don’t do that thing anymore. Studies show that 23% of New Year's Resolutions are given up by the end of the first week of January, with Friday as the most popular day.  It happens so predictably each year that the second Friday in January (last Friday) is actually labeled  “Quitters Day.”  

Resolving to sin no more 

During the winter break, I noticed people lining up for Reconciliation immediately after the Friday daily Mass. I confess, my own personal history with the sacrament isn’t ideal. My First Reconciliation date is inscribed in the records of my baptismal parish, but at some point in my young life I quit seeking the sacrament and just accepted sin in my life. After 36 years, God called me back to Reconciliation. When I began attending every three months, I found myself confessing the same sins over and over.  

Recently, I realized that part of the sacrament includes a firm resolution through the Act of Contrition.  

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend (resolve), with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.  

Perhaps struggling with the same sin over and over is a wakeup call that the sinful choice is embedded in my daily habits. Does this mean I’ve quit trying to conquer that particular sin? 

Don’t quit God! 

Taking this to prayer, I thought about all the saints we honor in the Church: Mary, St. Joseph, St. John the Baptist, the Apostles, and others. Their mission on earth was difficult, with many temptations. They may have wanted to quit at some point, but they never did. Throughout everything they faced in their life, they received God’s grace and firmly resolved to protect Christ’s perfect love.

We are likewise called to do the same. To remain in Jesus, living out our daily life with prayer and awareness. We also receive God’s grace and through the sacraments find the strength to persevere and turn away from temptation. So make your firm resolution to remain in Christ’s love, dance to the music, and trust that with God, we can achieve anything in our life if we just never quit! 

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Copyright 2025 Shelly Henley Kelly
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