Photo from flickr “The Commons”.

For the past two years now I’ve done something totally different with New Year’s Resolutions. If you were following me last year you may remember what that was. If you were not, keep reading.

Every year people write their resolutions down about what they want to accomplish for the year, usually about health. Others write out a list of goals they want to achieve that year. Some people keep them, but most of us stop after a month – and if you’re like me, it’s all over after a week. The list gets shoved aside, lost among the bills or other papers, or in my case, wadded into a perfect ball and slam dunked into the bin. Why did I do this? Well, because I once again realized that the ambitious part of my life exited when that alarm went off.

Can you relate to any of this? If so keep reading.

I’ve not wadded up a list now for two years. In fact, I don’t even need to make a list because I just have one word to remember. Yep, you read that right – One Word. The word needs to be something broad that can be applied to all areas of you life, but not so broad that you can’t grasp it. It should be something that is on your heart, something that speaks to you.

Two years ago my word was “secure”. Strange, maybe, but married to a TCK and raising three of them, being secure in who you are and where you call home is something I’ve dealt with. That year, my husband quit his job as a principal and began his own NGO. Secure was the perfect word for me – I learned enough lessons on security to probably write a book. It was one of those hard, but really good years.

Last year, my word was “intentional”. I wanted to be intentional in all that I did. I can’t say I did a perfect job with that one, but I have learned how important it is to be intentional, especially with my kids. To intentionally stop and enjoy coloring with my youngest, to read a book, or to play catch. To intentionally keep traditions that we started and talk about them with the kids. I was even more intentional in my writing and entered a few contests (nothing to brag about, but I did enter). I’ve learned that if I’m not intentional, it probably won’t happen – and time isn’t something you gain back once it is gone.

My word this year?

I came across this word Christmas Eve. It was after the meal, after the Christmas story had been read, after the presents had been opened, after skyping with family – after the kids were in bed asleep. It was while my husband was out to buy the bike for our youngest. We live in Asia, so not such a huge deal going out Christmas Eve to buy Christmas presents, although I don’t recommend it. I was all alone with a cup of tea. The light were off except for the white lights of the tree. All was quiet, except for the water trickling in the fish tank. My thoughts began to make a path around the events of the evening. I thought about the excitement of the kids as the time came for them to open presents, especially Jie Jie as she really understood what was going on. My mind replayed Mei Mei showing me her princess she had just colored. Then the phrase, But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19) came to my mind. I was doing just that – pondering. And that was when my one word came to me, “ponder”. I want to take the time to ponder over God’s blessings that day and over my family and the funny things they did or said. Who knows though, I may ponder over writing ideas, lesson plans, or Bible studies. There are a lot of things that I could ponder over. So, 2013, here’s to a year of treasuring – may you bring me lots of joy and happiness to ponder over in my heart. And if you bring some heartache and trials, then I’ll ponder over the lessons learned from them – but I’m really hoping for the joyful things to think about. 

Your Turn: How do you plan for the New Year? Please share in the comments below your goals or your one word.

**If you want more information on the myoneword, you can check out their website.

And may each of you be blessed with peace and joy this year of 2013.

Happy New Year!