My Three Words for 2012

This will be my third year of choosing three guiding words that represent my heart and mind for the new year.  They are by no means resolutions, which beg to be broken by mid-January.  They are carefully chosen words that act as beams of light on my path, helping direct my steps.  The process of choosing them is mind-boggling.  I mean, there are umpteen billion words in my language.  How do I pare down to 3?  By listening.  A quiet mind allows the right words to bubble to the top of the list.  Here they are:

1.  Thrift

I want to be more thrifty with my time and money.  Perhaps there are more concise words I could choose, but I think "thrift" will stick in my mind.  I heard recently that Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook, takes on a personal challenge each year.  Last year, he decided to only eat meat he had butchered himself.  Crazy but cool!  So my not-so-bloody challenge is to only purchase clothes and shoes this year from thrift stores or consignment (except for my running shoes and undergarments!)  The money I save will help pay for the new Compassion child I am sponsoring:  a 15-year-old boy from Haiti. 

It will be interesting to see where this word takes me.  I would love to become a less impulsive spender, more thoughtful and self-controlled...to only bring new things into my home that will add value and enhance my life. 

When I sit down to time-wasting activity, I pray this word will blink like neon in my mind.  I haven't quite decided where blogging falls on this continuum of time-takers.  Weak sigh.


2.  Nurture

I've scribbled down many variations of this word and almost chose "shepherd,"  but then I walked into my bathroom yesterday and saw this beautiful book jacket placed on a ledge for decoration...

It's an image I will see everyday as a reminder.  I need to pay more attention to relationships in my life.  I am and have always been project-oriented.  I LOVE  a new project.  I LOVE to work alone.  But I realize I am missing a vital part of human connection and ministry when I focus on my own projects.  I want to invite my children into my projects more often.  I want to linger over conversations with friends, since I tend to always get to business, especially on the phone.  I need to call my dad regularly.  I pray for a few relationships outside of my normal Christian friends that I can nurture and pursue.  I pray for at least one mentoring/discipling relationship within my church....perhaps a young mom.  What I know for sure is that if I am not intentional with this, I will continue accomplishing a lot of little projects on my own.  Like new blogposts.  Again, weak sigh.

3.  Decrease

Some form of this word always ends up on my list.  Last year: yield.  Two years ago:  portion.  Of course, it's mainly about food.  I have found that the most effective way to remind myself that food does not control me is to fast.  I intend to fast regularly in 2012.  I have a book on my side table right now entitled:  Knowing God Through Fasting by Elmer Towns.  I just finished a really good "girlfriend-type" one called Craving Grace by Lisa Velthouse.  It helps to know how others approach and experience fasting. 

More than food, I must always focus on decreasing so that God may increase.  Not drawing attention to myself is hard, particularly when God has given me a speaking/singing platform.  But I know it can be handled well because I've seen others do it beautifully.  I will imitate them. 

And then there is the STUFF.  That winds me back to "thrift."  Being diligent about decluttering and careful of adding more.  Often, I get stuck in the cycle of cleaning out and then buying new.  Hopefully, this word will prevent me from increasing my stuff. 


Why do I bother putting so much thought into this?  Because it works.  Reflecting on my words from 2011 (inheritance, voice, yield) I can clearly see that God blessed my efforts with fruit, and for that, I am utterly grateful.  As in my Bible reading from Hosea this morning, God calls out in passionate love, I respond in grace-filled faithfulness, and together we form a lovely, fruitful marriage.

How about you?  Would you join me?