Looking forward to 2014 - it's time to choose a new word for my OneWord365 adventure.
2012 was the year of brave - and I did a lot of things for the very first time, and a lot of things I would never have attempted had that word not been staring me down every morning.
2013 was the year of grace - and that challenged my heart, my emotions, my attitude every single day. Some days more than others.
2014 - well, I had a word picked out. But I didn't announce it. I had a plan, and the word aligned with the plan and it tied up neatly in a bow. And then it hit me ... the word I was really supposed to use. So out with the plan, and in with the word that's going to drive me this year. Journey. It's not about where I am going. It's not about the end destination - the plan - the tied up neatly in a bow conclusion. It's HOW I go. It's being intentional along the way - stop and smell the roses; don't drum your fingers in impatience at the red light, because maybe you needed to see the lady with 3 little kids and a flat tire on the side of the road.
As I start 2014, it's going to be a new chapter - a new leg - in the journey through this life, and this time, I'm going to look more at the journey itself, rather than being tunnel visioned toward the end of the trip.
Looking forward to the new adventures it brings.
PS, if you want to choose your own word, it's not too late - just pop over here, give it a look, and pick out the One Word that can change it all.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Grace ... A Year in Review
2013 marks my second year of participation in One Word 365. I've never been fantastic about New Year's Resolutions - making OR keeping them. But the idea of choosing a word - just one word - and considering it all year long, is something that resonated with me.
So how was the year of grace? My ex-husband's new wife came to church with us. More than once. (My kiddos have wonderful hearts to share the news of The Gospel with folks). And I not only survived, I actually had some conversations with her. It's only small talk, but in a world of a whole lot of hurt, small talk without tears from me was a huge step, and only possible through grace. We had a few more interactions this year, and while still not easy (I doubt it will ever be easy), I can say for certain that having an attitude up front that I would be gracious and kind to her did make it easier. At least no tears, and the anger is gone. It's amazing how grace - coupled with time - can bring healing.
And I changed my approach with my kids. Deliberately. I think I've mostly been a pretty good mama thus far, even tackling almost all of the parenting totally on my own. But still, I saw things in me I didn't want them to know. Things I didn't want them to learn. And with grace in the front of my choices, I see this changing now - for the better. I'll call that a win.
I also tried to blog this year - at least through Five Minute Friday - which makes my brain do a little grown up, non work related thinking. I intended to do it every. single. week. (HA HA ... intentions gone awry). And then I tried to catch up when I missed. And "do better" the next week. But here's what I found. When I gave myself grace on the weeks Icouldn't didn't make time to write, then the thoughts flowed more freely the next time I did sit down. And it turned into something I loved - something I looked forward to each week, instead of the almost dread I felt at the beginning. So I missed a few weeks, but I found a joy in writing - reflecting - that I didn't know I had. I'll call that a win, too.
So as I end another year, reflecting back on where I've been, I will say that grace transformed a whole lot of "could have been really bad" into a whole lot of "what an amazing opportunity". The word popped up everywhere to remind me, and there were a few days where I had to dig deep - spend a lot more time on my knees to find it - but it was ALWAYS there. And lest we end the year without one last reminder of grace, this was in the Christmas bag my girls gave to me.
Looks like a little grace goes a long way toward impacting other people, too.
So how was the year of grace? My ex-husband's new wife came to church with us. More than once. (My kiddos have wonderful hearts to share the news of The Gospel with folks). And I not only survived, I actually had some conversations with her. It's only small talk, but in a world of a whole lot of hurt, small talk without tears from me was a huge step, and only possible through grace. We had a few more interactions this year, and while still not easy (I doubt it will ever be easy), I can say for certain that having an attitude up front that I would be gracious and kind to her did make it easier. At least no tears, and the anger is gone. It's amazing how grace - coupled with time - can bring healing.
And I changed my approach with my kids. Deliberately. I think I've mostly been a pretty good mama thus far, even tackling almost all of the parenting totally on my own. But still, I saw things in me I didn't want them to know. Things I didn't want them to learn. And with grace in the front of my choices, I see this changing now - for the better. I'll call that a win.
I also tried to blog this year - at least through Five Minute Friday - which makes my brain do a little grown up, non work related thinking. I intended to do it every. single. week. (HA HA ... intentions gone awry). And then I tried to catch up when I missed. And "do better" the next week. But here's what I found. When I gave myself grace on the weeks I
So as I end another year, reflecting back on where I've been, I will say that grace transformed a whole lot of "could have been really bad" into a whole lot of "what an amazing opportunity". The word popped up everywhere to remind me, and there were a few days where I had to dig deep - spend a lot more time on my knees to find it - but it was ALWAYS there. And lest we end the year without one last reminder of grace, this was in the Christmas bag my girls gave to me.
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