my word for 2020
Do you choose a "word of the year?" I've never really felt the need to, but, this year, one just kind of popped into my head: "comfort." {Before you stop reading, I want you to know that "comfort" did not end up being my word for 2020.}
You see, several things happened in 2019 that I wouldn't have chosen. Someone who is very dear to me received an unwelcome diagnosis. I went through my own series of unexpected health problems, one of them resulting in a need for surgery, which I will be having in early January. There were numerous other things that I can't share online. I found myself rehearsing the woe-is-me list over and over: "2019 was not the best year. This happened, this happened, and this happened." Repeating this negative mantra resulted in my wanting to throw a giant pity party for myself, and the word "comfort" sounded pretty good for 2020. I let the word "comfort" dissolve on my tongue for a bit, but it never tasted quite right.
Women are strong. (Philippians 4:13) When we face life's challenges, we don't need to hide in the closet, guzzling wine and scarfing chocolate. We don't need to quit. I discovered that I could take every item on my woe-is-me-list and flip it into something positive. For example, that unpleasant diagnosis a loved one received? We had been wondering what was going on with her for years, and now we finally have an answer. And a promising treatment plan! My own health problems? Praise the Lord that what we feared was cancer was something much less frightening, albeit something I still need to get taken care of. Even more than that, Dan is an amazing provider for our family, we have a roof over our heads, and fresh clean water available at the tap whenever we want it. I should be throwing a celebratory party, not a pity party!
Therefore, friends, my word for 2020 is:
grateful
When (not if) I face trials in 2020, I pray that I will be able to reframe them quickly with the word "grateful" in the forefront of my consciousness. Not only can the Lord show me some sort of positive spin in every challenge, but I can also be thankful for the ways they strengthen and mature me.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1: 2-4
I don't know if I'll be able to count it "pure joy," but at least I'll (hopefully) be able to avoid the negative mantra. 😉
Do you do a "word of the year?" If so, what is yours for 2020? I'd love to hear it!
