One Word.

How much could one word change your life in a year? This year I am taking the challenge to find out. The challenge to dismiss New Year’s resolutions, the challenge to have one singular focus for the entire year.

New Year’s resolutions are wonderful and produce great goals for people, but who really remembers them 3 weeks, 3 months in to the year? Who doesn’t get discouraged by the 15 lb. weight loss goal they made and then July comes and goes and they still haven’t lost a pound or their diet hasn’t worked like it promised?

A friend of mine recently asked me, “If you had to choose one word to focus on this year, what would it be?” I wasn’t sure… There are so many things that will be changing this coming year with a baby on the way and internship in May to who knows where with many new places and faces. At first, I thought maybe adapt or flexibility or forward would be good ones, but as prayed about how God would desire me to look at each day in this coming year, it came to me:

PAUSE & CHERISH

Ok, yes, it’s two words instead of one, but one without the other just didn't do it for me. I asked the Lord what He wanted for me this year and what kept coming to mind was to PAUSE, pause in the moment… and then CHERISH that moment, cherish each moment, each new adventure along the way.

Pause & Cherish each and every sunrise and the day that it brings.
Pause & Cherish the truth that I have a gracious God who loves me and sent His son to die for me.
Pause & Cherish my baby and the gift of motherhood.
Pause & Cherish my husband, the humble, servant leader in our home.
Pause & Cherish my family, my parents, my siblings.
Pause & Cherish time alone with my Lord and Savior.
Pause & Cherish the godly women God has placed in my life as mentors and dear friends.
Pause & Cherish each day as it is, instead of always looking for the weekend.

My prayer is that this list will continue to grow this year as God continues to reveal to me the things that He Himself takes time to cherish.

What will be your one word or one short phrase for this year?

How will God use that one word, that one focus to mold and shape you each and every of the 365 days this year?