2022- New Year, New Word

I’ve enjoyed this practice for the last few years with the words:

In 2018 we welcomed baby #5 (Logan) into our home; I took my second trip to Africa, and while I was there, our daughter, Sophia who was five at the time, got very, very ill requiring a stay at Norton Children’s; and at the end of the year, my Gram began a health decline she couldn’t overcome. The need for “Strength” in these situations was something I could have never seen coming, and while the word did nothing to give the strength, it did serve as a reminder of the Lord’s provision…that He is our source of strength.

In 2019 Gram continued downhill and eventually passed in March. “Serving” was exactly how I spent those first three months of the year. Gram went from being mostly independent to needing full care. It was very difficult on us all as we knew we were losing her, she was having a hard time, and nearly 100% of my time was spent caring for her. It wasn’t the word that prepared my heart, or gave the ability to serve her, but it did serve as a reminder that God came not to be served, but to serve, and these days were a chance for me to be the hands and feet of Jesus to her. It was hard, but so special.

At the start of 2020 we had NO idea how the world was about to shift. I knew the Lord was calling me to submission but I had trepidation as to what that might mean. I made the decision that my answer to Him would be “yes”, whatever it was, whether I felt qualified or not, whether or not it my jam, whether it made sense to me, or not….if the Lord was calling me to it, my answer would be ‘yes’. So “worthy” came to mind as a reminder to live a life worthy of the call, that God says I am enough, that He suffered and died for me so who am I to say I wasn’t worth His sacrifice! And then pandemic, and then Scott was called to pastor a church, and then ministry…. On my own I was not- am not- worthy, but in Christ alone I was made worthy.

By 2021 things were so different in the world and in our family. Scott was home now as a part-time pastor helping with Akin Academy which allowed me ministry and social opportunities outside of the home that I hadn’t had in nine years as a stay at home/homeschool mom. For the first time my attention was not fully on the children and their needs, but I needed to remember that my greatest “influence” in this life would be the five humans the Lord has given us to raise. He might afford me some level of influence outside of our home through ministry, or writing opportunities, but none greater than these within our four walls.

Now here we are, the beginning of another new year and deciding on another new word. I begin praying for a word about mid-December and then pay attention. Sometimes it’s an idea that comes to mind in prayer or song or scripture, sometimes it’s a word that keeps coming up in conversation, or sometimes it’s just an impression that I mull over for a while and see if it is confirmed in any way. The latter is how this year’s word came to me.

It just kind of came to mind so I paid attention to it. Then it came up in song, and in reading, and in conversation in situations where either the use of that word was random, or caught my attention. So it stuck. I’ve had a bracelet with my word on it each year so today was my first day to wear this year’s outside of the house. During Sunday School prayer requests this morning, a friend, speaking of praying for our community churches said, “It’s just a tender time.” I said, “Oh, wow.” and showed her my bracelet. It’s not coincidence, or mystical, but it does affirm, and excites me to see how the Lord will use this word throughout this year.

Do you do a word? I’d love to hear yours for 2022!

~Jules