Word of the Year

(Re-opening this blog has been on my mind for a little while...and what better reason to write than when asked to submit something for a blog team. So, you can read past posts I’ve written during the time that we were bringing our son home from Ukraine.  It was a tumultuous time, to say the least. And, in country, I recall the blog not working well so the full story is not written there -I don’t think- I hope to remedy that as I begin writing again. At any rate, here is a fresh beginning.)

When I was asked to write a blog post (or I volunteered, I don’t know) I immediately felt that I wanted to write about something near to my heart: words.  

As a speech therapist, I deal in words professionally.  As a mom, I invest in and waste words regularly.  Dear me...lots of them.  

I love words.  And I believe in the power of and necessity of communication. It’s ironic that I’m beginning this blog again with this topic as it was begun with our son coming home from Ukraine - and, at the time, he had no words of his own.  I’ll tell you his story sometime.  To God be the glory, Levi has found his voice many days.  

As mentioned before, the start of his life with us- post adoption- was tumultuous for us all.  We lost our rhythm.  We were needing a new normal.  We were scared.  We believed in what we had done as being God’s plan for our family but our reality was bleak at that time.  

I heard from someone (I have no idea whom but I know many people use this method, this is just my story) about choosing a word of the year.  I remember thinking at the time: that sounds tedious, just one.  But I was so worn down and discouraged, it also felt freeing. 

Just one.  

How do you sum up a whole year in a one word??? 

I.love.words. I use them regularly and flagrantly.  

Maybe this wasn’t for me. 

But the thought persisted: a word. 

Processing this, I came full circle to the thought that the word wasn’t to “sum up” a year but rather to “project onto” a year. What if it was meant to provide intention? Direction? Goal-setting? 

What if it wasn’t just for me? What if the fragrance in our home could be altered by this intentionality? 

We needed something.  We needed direction.

I believe the first word I chose was HOPE.  Not because I possessed much at the time...but because I was intentionally choosing it for my family.  Because I wanted to live each day not in the hope I can independently realize but only true HOPE that comes from Jesus.  Not because HOPE was something to be owned, but a goal each day; a living hope, if you will, that could be set before us and aspired to.  Even in our weakness and hopelessness.  

Do you feel ‘there’ this year? Have you lost intention and direction? 

Another year, I chose PRAY. Friend, there are situations in front of us (now maybe more than ever) that cannot be changed and affected by our human endeavors but only by the power of prayer. 

Do you have concern for a child? Concern for health? Concern for job? You’ve done all that you can do and now...”all that’s left is to pray”...I determined that year to make prayer my first response, not the last.  I set a goal before me. I posted it through my house so that I would be held accountable...so that my kids would hear me talk about it. 

  

We’re reading The Screwtape Letters this year in school and I’m reminded that there is a battle constantly being waged.  My complacency and apathy, disinterest and distraction fuel the Enemy’s fire.  May I not be so pliant.  May I enter the fight for God’s Kingdom fully.  I do so by being engaged in prayer always and increasing my vigilance to where God is working and calling me to be. 

So, how does it look? Choosing a word? 

I’m always amazed at the words I choose and how they affect my whole family.  I put them out there for all to see and know.  I place them in noticeable places.  I sometimes wear them on jewelry (I like jewelry and wall art, what can I say?)

My word this year is: FAITHFUL.  It hasn’t been on our walls or anything.  It’s one I’m still working out in my spirit. 

God’s faithfulness has been evident to us.  He’s calling us to increasing faithfulness.  It’s a work in progress as I flesh it out on a daily basis.  

Does that make sense? Some years are clear and neat.  Others, like this year, they are promised but hard...and may take a couple of years.  That’s ok. 

As you are looking forward to the coming year, striving for intention, consider these words from the Psalms: 

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. 

Also, Luke 6:45 says: A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things our of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.  

This year, intention to fill the very heart of your home with only good...whatever is pure, lovely, true, honorable, of good report...choose your word from that list and you’ll never go wrong!