I've never been one who has had a "Word of the Year." There's no reason I haven't, other than it just hasn't been my thing.
I'm in a private Facebook group of amazing Christian women who have become precious to me. As 2015 drew to a close several ladies were talking about their word for 2016 and had said God gave their word to them. I said I had never prayed and asked for a word, nor had a given it much thought, but after 2015, which was the hardest year of my life, to date I chose the word "healing" for myself. Basically every aspect of my life needs God to touch it and heal it. While 2015 seems to be marked by struggle, I want 2016 to be marked with healing.
A few days later I truly believe God gave me a different word: Simple
In the past 6-9 months I've spent a lot of time pondering the Ghandi quote, "Live simply, so that other may simply live." The more I spend on myself, and my own wants, the less I have to spend on others. Conversely, the less I spend on my wants, the more I have to meet the needs of others.
This summer I talked about how I am am uncomfortably comfortable and I have continued to wrestle with the things I wrote there. This is a journey, and I don't know if I will have ever arrived in this life.
I don't know when I started, but I recently began using the hashtag #SpendLessGiveMore in my social media posts as it seemed like the best way to condense the Ghandi quote into less than 140 characters.
It's not just about money, though. As I explained to a friend when we were talking about our words of the year:
My simplicity is about so much more than money.
I want to simplify ALL areas of my life so I can savor and enjoy the best parts of it. I'm cutting out all the extras. I'm cutting out the stuff "people" tell me our family needs. I'm not doing what Pinterest or other social media formats tell me I *should* be doing--I'm living simply and intentionally.
I want to have energy at the end of the day and at at the end of the week to invest in those I love and the things I'm passionate about. I don't want to give the best of me to something that's not eternal.
So, 2016 will be the year I ask myself, "Is this eternal?" before I spend my time, energy or resources on something.
After losing our friend I'm even more focused on how short life is. I want to invest the best of me now. My oldest is 9. He has lived almost half of his life under our roof already . . . we only have about 9 more years with him at home. These past 9 years have gone in a blur. I want to live each of these next 9 years pouring into him--the same with my 7 year old. It's only 11 years until she launches into the "real world". I'm simplifying our lives to maximize time together.
I'm in a private Facebook group of amazing Christian women who have become precious to me. As 2015 drew to a close several ladies were talking about their word for 2016 and had said God gave their word to them. I said I had never prayed and asked for a word, nor had a given it much thought, but after 2015, which was the hardest year of my life, to date I chose the word "healing" for myself. Basically every aspect of my life needs God to touch it and heal it. While 2015 seems to be marked by struggle, I want 2016 to be marked with healing.
A few days later I truly believe God gave me a different word: Simple
In the past 6-9 months I've spent a lot of time pondering the Ghandi quote, "Live simply, so that other may simply live." The more I spend on myself, and my own wants, the less I have to spend on others. Conversely, the less I spend on my wants, the more I have to meet the needs of others.
This summer I talked about how I am am uncomfortably comfortable and I have continued to wrestle with the things I wrote there. This is a journey, and I don't know if I will have ever arrived in this life.
I don't know when I started, but I recently began using the hashtag #SpendLessGiveMore in my social media posts as it seemed like the best way to condense the Ghandi quote into less than 140 characters.
It's not just about money, though. As I explained to a friend when we were talking about our words of the year:
My simplicity is about so much more than money.
I want to simplify ALL areas of my life so I can savor and enjoy the best parts of it. I'm cutting out all the extras. I'm cutting out the stuff "people" tell me our family needs. I'm not doing what Pinterest or other social media formats tell me I *should* be doing--I'm living simply and intentionally.
I want to have energy at the end of the day and at at the end of the week to invest in those I love and the things I'm passionate about. I don't want to give the best of me to something that's not eternal.
So, 2016 will be the year I ask myself, "Is this eternal?" before I spend my time, energy or resources on something.
After losing our friend I'm even more focused on how short life is. I want to invest the best of me now. My oldest is 9. He has lived almost half of his life under our roof already . . . we only have about 9 more years with him at home. These past 9 years have gone in a blur. I want to live each of these next 9 years pouring into him--the same with my 7 year old. It's only 11 years until she launches into the "real world". I'm simplifying our lives to maximize time together.
:)
ReplyDeleteHeidi, I've had a word for the year for the past several years. Sometimes I don't have a clue why the Holy Spirit chooses a word until the end of the year. Other times, I know right away. Simplify has been a "mantra" of mine as well for several years. I've simplified a lot and continue to work on it. I hope I will be a simplified girl soon. Keep on, keeping on. Life is short and simplicity is worth the effort as it leaves room for so much more. Hugs
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