When You Need A Word for the New Year.

As I have been trying to prepare my heart for the New Year or at least New Year’s Eve. My mind is a jumbled mess. My memories are filled with experiences. Thoughts of years past when we played board games, drank eggnog and tried to stay awake for the ball to drop, swirl through my mind.

When I was a little girl at twelve o’clock, our quiet little neighborhood turned loud for about 5 minutes of pots and pans banging and clanging along with any other noise you could imagine. I never forgot it.
As a mom of littles, New Years Eve was one more night of snack making and sleepover planning with sparkling grape juice on the side

But, two years ago was not a year of merry making. Oh, we tried! We made the snacks, planned the evening but my husband had, what we thought was a pretty rough stomach bug. As the clock approached midnight, his steps began to stumble and his words were a jumbled mess. My only thought was he must be dehydrated. He hadn’t been able to keep anything down for a few days so even though he didn’t want to go,we all piled in the car to head to the ER. His Dad and the kids and I.
An hour and a half later a doctor walked in with a very serious expression and the bottom dropped out of our world. Large mass in his head, not sure what, ambulance to another hospital. Over the next two weeks of doctors, medicines, waiting and a surgery, we heard the dreaded words. Its grade four glioblastoma and as I heard myself crying wondering how I could do this and how I could help my children do this, I felt our surgeon drop a kiss upon the top of my head.
It was confirmation of what was to come. More hard, more questions, more fighting the good fight in body and spirit, and along the way, kisses on my head from our loving Heavenly Father in a myriad of ways. It was one day at a time, sometimes one breath at a time, only able to focus on what was right in front of me and Jesus. He walked beside us , He carried us, He interceded for us, He lifted our heads up, He strengthened us and in the end He spoke peace over us and called Alan home. Almost 14 months after our wild ride began, it finally came to a stop. It felt like we landed in another world all together. Nothing around us looked the same anymore. Our only constant was Jesus.

So as I began to hear talk about “words” this month; What is your word for this year? What was your word for last year? I thought to myself, “ What a great idea! “ and then “ I just can’t Lord, I have no emotional energy to wrestle out what word you have for me this year.” And just like that He whispered,  “HOPE!” Hope, is your word daughter, yesterday, today and tomorrow. I am teaching you hope and you in turn will write about hope to remind your brothers and sisters that hope is their word too.
There are other words that will follow, joy, peace, loved, fearless, trust, courage, being still. For the Father has given us all these things. That is what it’s really about isn’t it? It’s about remembering what the Father has promised us and renewing our minds to that truth. It is doing what He said to do,                 “ Whatever things are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely and commendable, think on these things.” Things like:

“I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper and not harm you to give you hope and a future. “(Jer. 29:11)

“Be still and know that I am God.”(Psalm 46:10)

“My peace I give unto you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

“Sorrow may last for a night but joy comes in the morning.” (Ps. 30:5)

“When I am afraid I put my trust in you. The Lord is the stronghold of my life.” (Ps. 27:1)

These are everlasting words that hem us in when we feel like the very fabric of our being is unraveling. They are balm to our wounded hearts and they are  cool water to thirsty souls. So as we face this new year. May we remember even if we don’t know the “word” for our year. We know many words that God has for us. Not just for the year in general but, day by day and hour by hour. May we pause, renew our minds with his truth and then step forward in hope. That the words He speaks over us will come to pass because His word does not return void

 

19 Replies to “When You Need A Word for the New Year.”

  1. Oh. My. Word. Piercing, raw, transparent. Beautiful writing, Sweet Friend.
    XO
    Tammy

    1. Thank you Tammy! So glad it spoke to you.

  2. Amazing! Love, love, love this! Tara, this is so inspiring! Thank you!

    1. Thank you Tracy!You encourage me.

  3. Beautiful friend. This is so similar to our last days with my dad. Know that I’m praying for you right now Tara!

    1. Thank you for your prayers Stacey! I’m so sorry you had to go through that with your Dad. Your words mean a lot.

  4. Beautiful. My word is release. XOXO

    1. Thank you Beth! I love that word! There is rest in it.

  5. Tara, yours words bring such comfort. You bare your soul, share your heart, and in so doing speak encouragement to me. What a blessing we don’t walk this earthly road alone. Not only do we have a forgiving Savior, but He provides us with faithful friends too! Bless you!!

    1. Ruth, I’m so glad we don’t walk alone. Thank you for taking this journey with me.

  6. Thank you for sharing what God is placing on your heart. His words are our hope and joy!

    1. Yes, Sara! They are HOPE and JOY!

  7. Grateful for you and your faith. Such a blessing to us all. May 2017 be filled with hope and love.

  8. Bonnie McEuen says: Reply

    Thank you I am really love the scripture you posted on this. I needed an uplifting from Toms sickness and that’s what I got when I read this. Thank you so much for sharing. Have you thought of writing a book? Happy New Year to you friend.

    1. Bonnie, I am continuing to pray for Tom and you as you care for him. God’s word is always strength for us when we are weary.Thank you for you kind words! Happy New Year!

  9. Michelle Williamson says: Reply

    thank you for this great encouragement of Hope! His hope does not dissapoint! You are truly a testimony of the Lord’s faithfulness! What an overcomer you are in Jesus! God bless you and this ministry!

    1. Michelle,
      You always speak encouragement so thankful to serve the Lord with you.

  10. He speaks and is so beautifully through you! Your faithfulness, love & devotion is so lovely! Hard to understand why, but we must continue to trust Him!

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