At the beginning of the year, I saw a lot of Facebook posts and pins on Pinterest about people choosing a word to define their goals for the coming year. Things like joy and serenity and peace. They even made beautiful little graphics of their chosen words for inspiration.
Usually, when I hear an idea like this, I refuse to do it. Because I’m stubborn. And it’s not my idea. And if you suggest I should do something, I probably won’t do that thing. Even if it’s a good thing.
It’s funny, though. Over the past few weeks, in spite of that, a word has been reverberating around my brain.
Balance.
Balance.
Balance.
“I am not a balanced person!” I exclaimed to a friend recently. And part of me wants to cling to that notion, as if it’s some sort of great virtue. After all, spontaneity is the spice of my life. But I need more balance—I really don’t have an issue flying by the seat of my pants. In so many areas, I need balance:
When wishing I was fitter/thinner/healthier, I want it like yesterday.
Realizing that I need to let my work time be work time and my family time be family time and not allowing the tyranny of the urgent hijack time that rightfully belongs to my kids and husband.
When a child is showing their very real character flaws, I take it personally and wish they’d figure it out and shape up now.
During a rough patch in homeschooling, I’m tempted to throw in the towel instead of remembering that this is a commitment we’ve made and even a bad day/month/YEAR doesn’t define it.
If there is strife in my marriage, not talking it to death under the guise of communication, but rather realizing some things can be left alone (I don’t always have to be right or voice my opinion), and that’s ok.
But…balance. And this:
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven” (Ecc. 3:1).
It’ll all work out.
What’s your word?
7 Responses
Love the idea of having a word for the year! I will be praying about what the Lord might want me to have as my word for this year. Be blessed today and find a way to bless someone else!
Balance is a beautiful word. I use it all the time. I fail at it all the time. It sounds easy but imagine sitting on one side of that see-saw and trying to balance it all by yourself. Someone has to help from the other side or you have to do the almost impossible and stand in the middle. I prefer the first way – with a friend, a spouse, a child, and perhaps even with God (!), standing on that other side.
My word this year is patience. It’s tied to balance because it is easier to be patient when my life is balanced. But when it isn’t, I need to learn how to ‘go with the flow,’ how to accept the things that I cannot change, and to give not only myself, but other people, permission to make mistakes.
So true about patience! And you’re right, we need community–I think humans were made for that. And Angie just said ‘God.’ Love you!! 🙂
It’s pretty bad when I debate how to best use the word God. But I know you understand me better than most and accept me as I am. Love you too 🙂
Yes I do! It just made me giggle. 🙂 wish I could get a coffee with you! Miss you, my friend.
Simplify. At this stage in my life, I’m wearing many hats (wife, mother of 2 teens, caregiver of father, etc.), so I need to keep it simple. That means: Purge my house & my life of “stuff” that is unnecessary and offer myself grace constantly. 🙂
That is a good word! I also love the part of offering yourself grace. Good for you! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂