Just One Word

Last year I was encouraged to think and pray about just one word that I would like to define me for 2013. As I thought and meditated on it the one word that kept coming back to me was Contentment. As a woman we all struggle with contentment and just being satisfied with who we are and what we have been given. As a result I wrote a devotional for a women's ministry website that just happened to be posted again today (click here to read). All through the year I was constantly reminded that all my relationships, my interactions, my attitudes, and my lifestyle continued to be filtered through this one word. 
  • When I struggled to compare my less than perfect parenting skills to someone else...Contentment. 
  • When I struggled with my body image and wasn't happy with the reflection in the mirror...Contentment. 
  • When I wanted to a new deck....Contenment
  • When I wanted to have more time, more closet space, or a floor that would stay clean for just one hour....Contentment. 

It was a wonderful way for me to re-think a New Year's resolution and instead of setting goals that I would certainly fail and expectations that I wouldn't always be able to meet I felt very satisfied (content you might say) to focus on just one word for the year. This year my one word is Kindness. All my relationships, my good and bad days, my challenges, my attitude, my thoughts and my interactions with others will be filtered through the word kindness. This year I have asked my own family and some friends to think about their one word for 2014. And I would love to challenge you as well.


Just one word. 

Just one thing that you need more of in your life. 

Something that can help you filter your own relationships, interactions, and attitudes through. 


Grace
Peace
Tenacity
Kindness
Faith
Strength
Bravery
Leadership
Love
Encouragement
Hospitality
Patience
Mercy
Appreciation
You get the picture....


The New Year is a good time to reflect upon things you appreciate and get real with yourself about things that could have been done better. I challenge you to think on just one word, pray about, and ask the Lord to reveal just one word in your heart and then begin to practice it. 


One moment at a time, One interaction at a time, One small act of obedience at a time. 


Just one word. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why I let my children believe in Santa and love Jesus too!

Image
I re cently read a post by a very popular blogger and author that did a great job of throwing down on Santa and anything else about Christmas that did not celebrate the birth of Christ. While I totally respect her opinion and the personal convictions that she and her family have made for themselves, I can't help but feel that many of us moms who read that article felt a bit ashamed for celebrating with our families in a different way. As if we don't deal with enough mommy wars in our parenting styles, now we have to draw a line and get ready to fire at each other over the guy in the big red suit? It is just so ridiculous and I want to affirm anyone who chooses to let their children believe in Santa and tell you right now.... Your children can learn the truth about why we celebrate Christmas and believe in Santa too!  If you choose not to let your children believe in Santa because of a personal conviction or tradition that you all have for your family let me say - I totall
Read more

Thread of Hope - Story of Rahab

Image
I think a woman’s deepest need is to feel loved and if we are honest with ourselves, our own insecurities sometimes make us do things that we never wanted to do or take us places that we never intended to be taken. Your presence is always felt and when you are gone, it is felt even more. Not because you are the hired help, but because you have huge influence in the lives of other. The greatest influence begins at home. With your husband and your children. You don’t believe it, but you can stake your life on this one. Proverbs 14:1 tells us that a wise woman builds her house but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands. What does that look like for us today? Our attitudes in marriage How we talk about other people How we deal with conflict How we deal with disappointment Our expectations in our family How we give love We must learn to set our minds on the things above and not on the things of this world. We must have an eternal perspective in marri
Read more

Charting New Territory - Middle School

Image
It came in the mail yesterday. His middle school schedule. My heart broke just a little. Middle school is not an easy time. Every one around you is awkward, growing, insecure, trying to find their identity. Kids can be mean and at the same time, some of your truest friendships are formed. It's a little bit of a landmine. Say this, wear that, do this, definitely don't do that. It's scary for both of us.  He's growing into such a wonderful guy but he's still a kid. A true in-beTween. He still wants me to scratch his back at night and lay in my bed to watch a movie together. I'm teaching him how to do his own laundry and dishes. I still have to remind him to brush his teeth. I'm teaching him what it means to be a good friend and how to stand up for what's right. He's not quite ready to get rid of the Legos but his social network, his squad, and his private Instagram account is quite entertaining. He told me last week he gets all his new from Insta
Read more