Be still and know that I am God – Psalm 46:10
January is the time of year for resolutions, I know. Time to make big plans for improving the way you do life. Time to focus on goals and how to finally accomplish them. To determine how you will grow your business or shrink your waistline (or both) in the coming year.
The turn of a new year is also the time many folks decide to give special attention to a word-of-the-year.
New Year’s resolutions and choosing a word-of-the-year are two practices I follow a lot of years, but not all.
I don’t remember my resolution from last year, or if I even had one. If I did, I’m sure it included pitching my soon-to-be completed, edited, and polished novel to a list of agents. (That resolution has gathered some mileage over the last several New Years.) But, formally resolved or not, by the start of the last quarter of 2024, I could see I’d made progress on my novel goals. I was polishing away on my final (I hoped) draft, sending chapters to my Timothy and preparing my proposal for a list of agents whom I thought might be interested.
What I do remember is not one word, but two, Courage and Humility, took me by the hands to lead me on a brisk, scenic walk through the hills and valleys of the year. A pair I enjoyed spending time with. An interesting and balanced duo that offered lessons for stepping forward in scary places and, in other ways, stepping back. Teaching me I don’t have to make such a big deal of myself (what a relief!).
In the final quarter of 2024, a likely candidate came forward as 2025’s word-of-the-year. A word quickly followed by another.
And another.
And another.
When a flu knocked me off my feet two days before Thanksgiving, hours of bed-bound reading time brought new candidates via the stack of books on my nightstand. Repeated in Scripture and song, an ever-lengthening parade of words marched through my mind carrying an unlikely resolution hoisted on their shoulders:
Go slow and do less in 2025!
This was unexpected. Not a slogan that fits my idea of resolution material in general and far from the top of my needed-improvements list. (Let’s just say Speedy Doer would not be an apt description for this gal!)
The aftereffects of my pre-Thanksgiving flu dragged on until a Christmas cold knocked my baby steps of restored energy back to the ground. And after getting banged up a bit by twice tumbling down the bottom steps of my staircase, I could see going slow had benefits I hadn’t thought of.
So, I carefully pulled Christmas decorations from the attic at a one-box-per-day pace. I bought and wrapped gifts (or not) on a case by case basis. It felt sloppy and wrong until a bout of post-flu, low-grade depression took care of that, slowing even my thoughts about what matters in the doing of the holidays.
Now, having packed away the last Christmas decorations by the midpoint of January with only a dozen or so Christmas cards left to sign and address, I’m signing and addressing with a slow and loving hand. My guilt-free transition into this slow year.
I don’t know exactly what my slow year will look like other than an unhurried pondering of the dozen or so words-of-the-year that look to be walking through it with me. I’m excited to tell you the stories behind them as, starting next month, I bring a few at a time. (Not a jumping up and down excited, more like a quiet, glowing, gladness of anticipation.)
A leisurely conversation inviting you to go slow, put aside some doings, and ponder along with me.
Please join this slow conversation with a word or two (or more) of your own ponderings in the comments below.
This month’s question: What does your resolution or word-of-the-year practice like? (if you don’t have either practice, I’d love to know about that, too)
I’m so sorry you’ve had such a challenging time with your health. I’ll certainly be praying for you. As for resolutions, I don’t really make them. I have some goals I would like to accomplish but that’s all. I have a one word for this year again. I started with “yield,” but after my devotions this morning, I think my word should be “joy.” It will be difficult to sustain right now because of Dick’s son’s mental illness. He had to go to mental health court – again, and he’s waiting to hear what the attorney has decided about treatment. Pray that he will agree to whatever the court decrees. Finished my devotional but still need to get a website set up. Always good to hear from you.
Oh, Joyce that’s been a long road, I know. Perhaps, as things move along you can yield with joy in those areas where you have no control. Thank you for your prayers. I said a prayer for Dick’s son, court decrees, and attorney. The words that came to mind.. with God nothing is impossible. And He is the source of all joy.
I look forward to seeing your website and devotional. In His time, however slow it may be.
Love that enthusiasm for going slow – GO, GO, GO, GO SLOW!
Oh, yes! A team cheer for the slow goers! Thanks Yvette : )
Gosh, I feel as though I could have wrote that 😅
I have definitely been feeling the call to slow down and simplify things.
Danielle, I really love that I feel so connected to you no matter how much time goes by between. And I think simplifying probably has to be a part of slowing, so I’m glad you brought that word into the conversation : )
Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom. This is the verse that keeps gnawing on me. I pray that heart of wisdom for you as you seek God’s direction. “Number our days” I want my days to glorify God in all I say and do..
Thank you for your prayers, Kathy. What you wrote about seeking God’s direction and glorifying God “in all you say and do” definitely plays into the word list He’s given me to go through this year, too.
My words for this year are Overwhelming Love. I am praying that our children and the next generation feel the pull of God’s unwavering, Overwhelming love. So much so that they are drawn closer to a relationship with their Loving Heavenly Father.
Beautiful words, Melinda. I love that!
Jody, when I was 37, much to my surprise, my health broke under the demands for perfection that I had placed on myself-as a teacher, wife, mother, and church volunteer. I had thought it was all about me and being good enough and fixing every problem that I came across. In those years of ❤️🩹 very slow recovery I cherished this promise from God:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
In quietness and trust is your strength….” Isaiah 30:15
Lynn, thank you for sharing your story. I resonate so much with the words you wrote. I’m going to meditate on this verse. A few weeks ago I would have thought repentance and rest didn’t really go together. This is all so timely. I love how God interweaves the stories of His people.
I love what you shared here, Jody…I also get caught up in the going and the doing and the checking things off all my lists. What a great reminder for the new year. I don’t usually pick a word, but one that keeps coming to mind is “abide.” I feel like there are so many little things threatening to stress me out, things that would not feel as big if my mindset was a more constant communication with, and trust in, God. My go-to ideas are to strategize, plan, and frantically fix rather than to rest and trust…it sounds like our words go hand in hand!
Hand in hand, indeed! I love that word, abide. To still, and stay, and dwell in Christ. There is both comfort and mystery in that idea, I think. And I suppose fixing, strategizing, and planning have their place. It’s just a problem when they come in first place or as first thought. A mindset of trust is key, isn’t it? Shouldn’t we first go to the One we trust instead of the ways we trust? I’m grateful it’s something we get to keep practicing. The more often I notice I’m rushing, the more opportunities I have to practice slowing. I’m excited to see what God will bring to this conversation as the months go by.