Word for the Year

I know. I know it is January 25 and I am just now posting my word for the year.

In case you have not heard of the word for the year, the idea is to pick a word that you want to be a goal, a guide, a reminder for the year. There are so many words that you could pick -- simplify, intentional, joyful, laugh, risk, and another 100 words in the dictionary. The word is supposed to be meaningful to you.

Last year my word was faith. I even had a bracelet made with faith stamped on the tag. I picked that word because we were stepping out in faith trusting that God would provide what we needed so that we could minister overseas.

As I thought about my word for this year, there were two words in the running. Hope was one of the words which was fitting as we are in the time of waiting and so I am putting my hope in the Lord that he will finish the work that he has begun. The other word was disciplined. I like to think that I am a disciplined person -- drink my 64 oz of water every day, exercise regularly, and do all those other things that disciplined people do but I know that I am not as disciplined as I like to think.

Which word would win and become the word of the year for 2014? Would it be hope to remind me to put my hope in the Lord or would it be disciplined to work on the life of discipline.

The word for the year is resilient. I know that word wasn't even one that was in the running. It came out of the blue. Actually it came out of the sermon at the beginning of the year -- A Simple Call to a Resilient Life.

I love dictionary definitions, maybe that goes back to growing up when my dad paid me to read the dictionary. Anyway, the dictionary defines resilient as "able to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens, able to return to an original shape after being pulled, stretched, pressed, bent, etc."

Resilient people are committed to finishing well. Quitting is not an option and building strength is a daily pursuit. There have been times I just want to give up and quit trying to lose weight but then I remember that I don't allow my kids to quit because it is hard so I need to keep going.

Resilient people live free of the weight of the past. They practice repentance not blowing it off or denying it or even accepting it and getting used to it but repenting when necessary. They also are quick to forgive. Forgiving myself is probably one of the persons that I have to forgive the most.

Resilient people train to go the distance. This is a pursuit that will continue for a long time.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

So what does this mean to me? My desire is that when the bad things happen, when I fail to live the disciplined life I desire, when I spend the afternoon eating chocolate, I will bounce back and do what needs to be done. I will come out stronger and healthier. I will run the distance and not give up. My prayer is that in 2014 I will be resilient.

Even though it is the 25th of January writing this now is part of being resilient. The thoughts have been floating in my head but didn't happen but I am going to do it now even though January is almost over.

Do you have a word for the year?


Beth