“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children…walk as children of the Light and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.”
-Ephesians:5
Well, it took a little longer than usual for me to figure it out, but my Word of the Year finally chose me.
Family
By definition- a social unit, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not.
Seems like that would have been the obvious choice for me this year, right? No, at first I kept feeling the word ‘assignment’ whenever I prayed or thought about my word. It wasn’t until very early this morning that everything became crystal clear.
I was laying in bed. Our clip-on fan, pointed away from us, whirring as white noise in the corner. Max (our chihuahua) snuggled deep under the covers, somewhere near my knees. It was morning, but it was still dark. Too dark to get up. I could tell by his tossing and turning, Kevin was half awake already too.
Assignment
It popped into my head for the hundredth time.
What is it with this word?, I wondered again.
Then I remembered something I had read the night before. It was in Jesus’ final prayer. Surrounded by 11 of His disciples, He looked up to the sky and said, “In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world”. Things really started to click after that.
Click: A mission. An assignment. Then, click: THE assignment Jesus gave us: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength…and you must love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.”
Love God. Love others. Plain and simplegnificant. I grabbed my phone (dimmed the screen brightness as fast as I could- eek!) and went to a Bible app to read more about this assignment.
Click: Ephesians 5. “Imitate God in everything you do, therefore, because you are his dear children…walk as children of the Light and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord”.
Click: I remembered a verse I had shared with my friend Amanda the day before, “I have placed you here as a light for other nations; you must take my saving power to everyone on earth“. (Isaiah 49:6)
God = Heavenly Father. Everyone on earth = His dear children.
Click: FAMILY.
That’s the word I want to see posted around my house, and in my car, and on a bracelet I can wear this year. That’s the word that will remind me that my life’s assignment is to ‘imitate God’ (my Heavenly Father), because I am his ‘dear child’ that’s called to ‘walk as a light’ (which He “placed me here to be”) so that I can take the news of His saving power to ‘everyone on earth’ (His family).
Can I get a Hallelujah!? 😀 So fun how that was all revealed to me. I really want to be more intentional about those things this year. *Gotta* stay tuned in to family and the still, small voice that whispered it.
Seeing the word family will also remind me to thank God for our soon-to-be family of five! What a blessing to be able do life with them under one roof this year. Sure, challenges are bound to arise (Hello? In-laws AND a toddler- LOL!), especially in this first year together, but I know Who to lean on when the going gets tough and the road takes unexpected twists and turns. Proverbs 3:5-6 promises, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your path”.
I also want to be mindful of praying for my parents and brother more often this year. They all live in other states, so we don’t see or talk to each other as much as we used to. Seeing the word family will help me to remember to lift up special and specific prayers for them, as well as reach out to them on a more regular basis.
There’s one more reason the word family makes so much sense this year, and I’m smiling just thinking about the story I’m about to tell you. 🙂
It happened back in November. Kevin, Sweet P and I were sitting at the big wooden table on the “bonding balcony” at the orphanage in Haiti. We were playing with a mountain of lego blocks. He was sitting on Kevin’s lap, and I was sitting on the chair catty-corner from them. Normally, I don’t like interrupting him when he’s busy creating (Don’t even get me started on his “concentration face” and the soft, drawn-out grunting noise he makes when he’s really “in the zone”!), but on that particular day, and at that particular moment, I decided to go through our names with him again. (I used his real name then, but since I’m not allowed to share it yet, I’ll use “Sweet P” to share the rest of this story.) I said, “Sweet P!”, in a way that would (hopefully) make him want to look up from what he was doing. His eyes did shoot up to meet mine, but he continued to press Legos together as he looked. I pointed at myself and said, “Mama”. Then I pointed at Kevin and said, “Papa”. Then I pointed at him and said his name. He had already looked back down at his Lego creation at this point, but y’all, a moment later a gorgeous grin spread across my child’s face, and a second later, he looked back up at me and beamed, “MAMA!”, and then turned to Kevin and exclaimed, “PAPA!”, and then after saying his own name, he chanted, “FAN-MI! FAN-MI! FAN-MI!”, pounding the legos he had in his hands on the tabletop. He shouted the Haitian word for FAMILY with joy and enthusiasm…and aboutUS!!! My heart nearly turned to confetti!
That is such a precious story. Isn’t it wonderful how quick little children are to love. It’s a very Christlike attribute. It’s so good that he has you to nurture that love in him when he gets home.
You just made me cry, imagining your little one embracing you both with such a precious word. Especially as I have a son – and know just how much it takes to get their attention away from Lego!
My word this year is CHOOSE….just blogged about it too…I choose joy, peace, hope, and to get up and be all in….every single day!
So inspiring and hallelujah!
Our devotion this morning was We Are Family Isaiah 43:1-7. Coincidence? Gracious God, may we be ever mindful of and United by our place in your family. Amen
As, usual, stories about Sweet P just make me teary. Love it. Also, ‘FAMILY’ just fits so perfectly for you this year. Blessings in this new you to you and Kev and Sweet P. Can’t wait till you are all together under one roof!
Wonderful and uplifting post today. 🙂 Thank you!!
Hallelujah! What a sweet story. Can’t wait to see your family all together this year!
I have been waiting soooo patiently for your word of the year. I love them! You always have beautiful you & Kevin Christmas photos and awesome word of the year stories. I look forward to both.
Yay!!!!
My word-of-the-year came to me rather quickly this year. Shockingly quick. Last year was open (open my heart to possibility, open my mind to options, open to being brave…) – and I did it! So I was eager to listen for this year’s word. And it just popped into my brain/heart as soon as I sat still (meditated) and opened my heart 🙂
My word is reveal. I’m super excited -although a little nervous- but I too am walking in my faith at the “reveals” to come.
Here’s to awesome words! (I’m toasting you with a cup of hot tea)
Hugs from freezing-cold-Manitoba! (tis -42 C today) …I know, I too am asking WHY do I live here?! Brr!
Hugs to you (& Kevin)!
Oh my…Sweet P is just precious. Family is the perfect word for you this year!
My word for the year is *Courage* meaning “the ability to do something that frightens one”. To make steps that scare me, to take risks, to be vulnerable, to love people recklessly, and to live above fear! Loved this post Layla! So sweet, so pure!
I can’t imagine a more perfect word for you this year…especially since this is the year your family will be complete! Blessings and prayers.
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!
Layla, I am new to the “word of the year” concept, but I want to tell you something. Last night I looked at Jay and Katherine Wolf’s Instagram page. Their “life word” is HOPE. Katherine was talking about her necklace with the word HOPE on it that she was wearing in the picture.
I clicked on the hashtag on her post and found these guys:
http://www.thegivingkeys.com/
Katherine and Jay are always inspiring something wonderful!
On this company’s site, they talk about “paying it forward”. Last night just before bed I thought, “Who could I pay it forward to? Who would want one of these pieces of jewelry, and how could I pay that forward?”
I was intrigued, but had no idea who to do that for.
This morning I read your post, and I knew. When you wrote that you wanted a bracelet with FAMILY on it, I knew.
I’d like to give you a bracelet with FAMILY on it. If you see one of these bracelet styles you like (or if you decide on another piece of jewelry), just e-mail me, and I’ll order it for you.
Praying for you, Kevin, Sweet P and the Palmers as ya’ll embark on an exciting 2016!
Blessings,
donna
Aren’t we so blessed as Christians to have our Christian family too? We all get each other when it comes to spiritual matters. And we share in each other’s joy.
I’ve had my own down days and what I have discovered is that it is impossible to stay down if I choose through prayer to start praising God. We cannot give God glory and stay down. And when I thank God for whatever misery I’m going through and ask Him to show me what He wants me to learn, ie, patience, He does. Jesus said, whatever the case, for His will to be done. God’s will is perfect. Even if we don’t understand, what can be better than that? Those types of prayer have really matured me.
God bless your family. You and Kevin will make wonderful parents.Sweet Pea is so blessed.
Layla, great post and very inspiring. I had actually forgotten about coming up with a word for the year. After reading your post, I am going to borrow your word of “Family”. I feel the need to pray for my family more, pray for my church family more and try to be more of a blessing to all of my family. thanks for the word. Blessings to you and your family this year.
Teresa
Thank you for sharing your process of deciding on your word of the year. It is beautiful how the Lord makes us ponder things out sometimes instead of a quick answer. I am excited for your family to grow this year.
Family in any language is beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Oh, this made me cry. This is seriously so precious! I absolutely can not wait until your little one is home under your roof!! I love hearing your thought process too. I had made Eph. 5:2 “my verse” for the year. Love people like Christ loved! 😀
Love LOVE love this!!! ❌⭕️
Lisa☺️
Hallelujah Sister! Love your Heart!
Not a more appropriate word for your year! I can hardly wait to read your posts about your family life together. Thank you for sharing your story.
So sweet!!! I think family is the perfect word for you and your– growing 🙂 — family. Praying for you!
Hallelujah!
What a beautiful story about your son and a great word to kick off 2016!! Prayers for your sweet family, Layla!
Ha ha ha I figured it out . I would have commented earlier but my internet was not working. What a PERFECT word for y’all .this will be such a blessed year