As I approach every New Year, I don't necessarily
make a list of resolutions promising to improve my health, eat right, work out
everyday, be a better person, give more, etc. Although I'd love to do all
those things--I'm just not very good at keeping my own promises. However,
I always begin each New Year with a new word. A new focus on what I want my
year to embody.
As I began the year 2013, the word I decided to
focus on was ABIDE. Now when I think back to the challenges last
year brought me, I should have chosen the word SURVIVE because many days
I just wanted to "make it through." Make it though my
pregnancy, make it through the school year, make it through those rough days in
July when we had two newborn babies, make it through the even rougher 18 weeks my husband
was gone at the police academy and I was at home with two babies and a toddler. But I did it-- I made it through; I
survived! Most certainly I couldn't have done it without my Savior, whom
I had to rely on every minute of everyday. He
who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, but apart from Me you can
do nothing. John 15:5. I truly
don't think I would have been able to survive this past year if I didn't abide
in Him completely.
But after a year like last year, I found
it easy to choose a word for 2014. I don't want to live like I did last
year. I don't want to approach each day longing for the next one; I don't want
to wish time away.
I simply want to ENJOY.
Enjoy the time I have with the people I love. I want to enjoy the big moments this year
will bring, like my son turning two, my daughters learning how to walk, celebrating our 5 year anniversary, and going
on our first vacation as a family of five. Equally, if not more important, I also want to
enjoy the small moments of every day, like my son reminding me to pray before I
put him to bed, my daughter's smile when she wakes up at 6:30 each morning, my other
daughter's soft sleepy coo as I rock her goodnight, and my husband holding my hand while shopping for groceries. These moments, big or small, I want to enjoy them, so I can remember them forever.
Here's to 2014-- ENJOY.
