A good place to start writing for the year is my word of the year. I never push a word for the year, it either comes to me or it doesn’t, if it is forced then it is probably not a good fit.
In 2020, my word was “enough”. This started with a little
sign that said “you do enough, you have enough, you are enough”. I was
struggling with expectations, largely those imposed upon myself to be and do
more. I had no idea what was going to hit the world! What I learned from my
word varied as we moved through that unusual year. Our family was enough when
we couldn’t see anyone else. Our home was enough when we were in lockdown. My
stamina was enough to be there for my children all day every day. I didn’t accomplish
what I had set out to do, but what I did do was enough. I think that was the
overall take away. I really was enough being just me.
As we walked through an ever-changing year, it was hard to
feel peace about the future and plans were impossible. As I watched a child
fall apart, again, it was faith that kept me going to the next day. God has
been faithful before and he would be faithful again. One of the songs I
listened to over and over this year was “Goodness of God”. I love this song because
I know it to be true that “all my life You have been faithful”. God has never
not come through for us. God has always been faithful.
As life for my family changed, as my husband’s job changed
and my kids came home for school, my focus shifted more into my home, rather than
the speaking and writing out in the world I was expecting to do. At first it
chaffed a little, in the middle I was just trying to stay afloat so I didn’t
even think about it much, in the end I realized I was being faithful to my
family. The very job God had given me to do. I did a reflection and planning
retreat a few weeks ago. I wrote about what I wanted my life to look like a
year from that day. The result of my thinking and writing was that I am moving forward
on the path I need to be on. Really, that I need to remain faithful to my
family, my faith, and the roles God has given me. There was nothing especially profound
that came out of my retreat. Or maybe it was profound simply because it was
simple and quiet….be faithful.
There was my word for the year in two places. Faithful. God
has been and will be faithful for our family. He will direct our steps, especially
in a season of unknows (when WILL school start again, anyone?). I will be faithful.
I will lean in to the roles of wife and mother and friend and encourager. When
I am chaffing against what seems like a lack of progress, I will remember that God
is faithful and I will be, too.
