one word Archives - Blessings and Raindrops

I haven’t made any resolutions this year, and I typically do not, because I don’t need another thing to strive toward. Even if it’s something good and worthy. But, I do like this popular idea of choosing one word for the year.

Up until yesterday, I hadn’t been able to nail down a word. I had mulled over the idea and prayed for some sort of Divine inspiration.

After reading Kara Tippitt’s book {a must read for all mommas}, the word KIND was a forerunner. I love the idea of filtering everything — every thought, every action, every response — through a kindness filter. Heaven knows that I need to do this more often. Especially with all of these impressionable ears around.

Yet, it didn’t feel like a good fit for my one word.

Yesterday, as I was driving to church {late, of course}, it hit me.

JOY.

2015 will be the year of Joy.

I like the way it rolls off my tongue. I like the way I can look back over pages and pages of journals and notebooks from the past few years and see this word jump off the page frequently. I like the way it takes intentional effort to live with joy. I especially like the way it is the antithesis of fear.

As I thought through the impact of choosing JOY as my one word, I reread my notes from our church’s women’s retreat and they resonated deeply:

Fear is all smoke and mirrors.

God is with us.

We go to the worst-case scenario and the result is Wasted Joy.

We sabotage joy. We cannot be present in the joy because we are afraid of what is coming.

That’s it. The very essence of fear is that it seeks to hold us captive – to steal our joy. Fear creeps in silently, slowly even. Before you realize what has happened, how you have allowed the fear to invade, you find yourself up in the middle of the night unable to breathe under the weight of it.

But, joy. Joy combats fear. It exists in the trusting, in the Hope.

Our circumstances do not determine our joy. Joy is lasting. Happiness, which is based on life’s ever-changing circumstances, is unpredictable.

This world is scary. This world is full of sorrow and brokenness and disease.

Yet, it’s also full of beauty and love and hope.

We have to intentionally choose JOY. We have to look above all of the hurting, all of the pain, and fix our eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith. Joy requires action. Joy requires gratitude.

Yesterday, as I uploaded the photos from our recent New Year’s trip, I saw it.

Because, the truth is, sometimes reality doesn’t live up to your expectations and you miss the countdown and the midnight kiss {because everyone is exhausted and sick}. And, sometimes, you can’t go outside because it’s raining. And, sometimes, there are crying babies in the middle of the night and flu diagnosis and ER visits.

And, there is still JOY.

Joy because there is a dock where the littles can fish.

Joy because there is laughter at the big “catch.”

Joy in the quiet, slow mornings where memories are made.

Joy in the shrieks of excitement that result from spying a pile of wrapped packages.

Joy in stolen moments with loved ones, tucked away from the world.

Joy in discovering what you are capable of and the gift of being present to capture the moment with photographs and applause.

Joy in the innocence and depth of a child’s imagination.

Joy in babies’ laughter.

Joy in the celebration of a brand new year ahead. 365 days just waiting to unfold.

Joy in a break from real life. A break from work and school and bills and dishes and laundry. {And, yes, swimming goggles are a perfectly appropriate accessory for a cold, rainy morning in Tennessee}.

Joy in the gift of time with loved ones. As hard as the goodbyes can be, the moments together are worth it. They are worth the long hours in the car, the rearranging of schedules, the effort made to be together.

Joy in the awe of God’s creation. Under layers and layers of rock and dirt…there, deep below the earth’s surface, He gives us unexpected, majestic beauty.