PICKING A WORD OF THE YEAR ISN’T EASY

This is my last Sunday post for the year. That is crazy to even think about, and it seems like this year has flown by so quickly. When the year starts to wind down, I start to reflect on the events of the year. I think about all that I accomplished since I like remembering all of the blessings that I’ve been given.

Then, I think about the list of things I wanted to accomplish but somehow got pushed to the back burner. Just because something is on the back burner doesn’t mean that it can’t be heated up again. I’ve been looking back at some of my posts, my resolutions, and the hopes and plans that I had for the upcoming year.

No one saw 2020 coming, even though it was the year of VISION. Don’t you find that ironic? I’ve heard the saying, “if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.” Evidently, there must have been a whole lot of people telling God their plans for 2020 because He had to have been the only one who was laughing, and I don’t even think He laughed during 2020.

Everyone was sure looking forward to 2021, and even though it was better than 2020, I wouldn’t put it at the top of the list as far as years go. Last year, Emersyn (my granddaughter) came over and we talked about the resolutions that I had made. I laughed when I read the post, so I’ll share the story with you again.

I used a new shampoo and it had a scent to it that bothered me. I washed my hair again immediately to remove the scent, but the damage had already been done and I woke up with a sinus headache. I started feeling better as the day went on and mentioned that I was glad that my headache was leaving since I couldn’t have my usual headache remedy of a Coke and french fries. Emersyn wanted to know why I couldn’t have that, and I told her that it was because I made a resolution to only drink black coffee and water in January. I also made a resolution to not eat sugary snacks like cakes, pies, candy, or ice cream, so January is not going to be a fun month in the Stephens household.

She cocked her head at me, and I asked her if she knew what a resolution was. She said, “is it like a war or something?” No, that would be a revolution, this is a resolution which is kind of like making a promise that you try to keep. She immediately replied, “oooooh, could I make a resolution?” I told her she could, but we had to figure out what she was going to promise. I named several different things that she could do, and she kept shaking her head no to each suggestion. Finally, I said, “how about you make a resolution to not tell any lies in January?” She looked at me and said, “you know what?” “I’m just a kid, I think I am going to keep having fun and let you adults do the resolutions!” Dang, to be a kid again. Lol!

This year, I’m not sure that I’m going to be making any resolutions, but I am going to pick a word for the year. In December of 2019, I picked “content” to be my word for 2020. I’m not sure I did very well with my word since 2020 was such a difficult year for pretty much everyone.

I have decided on a WORD this year, and my word of the year is going to be GIVE. There are so many ways to GIVE other than money, but I’m going to try and give more money to churches, charities, organizations, and to people who are in need.

I want to give of my time. Sitting in front of my computer is a 24/7 job, but I am looking at hiring help to free up some time for me. Giving of my time will enrich me as well as others.

I want to give of my knowledge. I’m not the most knowledgeable person around, but I want to give of any knowledge that I’ve acquired.

Experience might fall under the knowledge category, but either way, I want to share through my experiences. Learning the hard way teaches us lessons, but I don’t want others to have to go that route if I can save them some hardships.

I want to give compliments and make someone feel good about themselves. I want to give more hugs and words of encouragement. It doesn’t take a lot of time to tell someone that you noticed them and thought they were doing a great job. \

And, most of all, I want to give my love of the Lord to others. Yesterday was Christmas, and we celebrated the most generous, unselfish, and the greatest gift of all, the birth of Jesus.

John 3:16

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 8:32

³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Ephesians 2:8

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

2 Corinthians 9:15

¹⁵ Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Because of the Lord’s love for us, He gave us a chance to spend eternity with Him. Without His grace, His love, His gifts, His forgiveness, we would never be able to enter the gates of Heaven. There is no way that we can ever earn His gifts, He gives them freely.

Last year, I asked if you knew of someone who was in need, and I am doing the same this year. Please send me an email describing the situation and what the need is to me at tania@50isnotold.com

Help me to make this my first opportunity to GIVE in 2022!

To GOD Goes the Glory!

Have A Blessed Day!