My One Word for 2014 {Guest post}

Today, we are SO pleased to have a guest post from Kristin Waters from See the Shine * Be the Shine, who is writing today about how a one-word resolution for this year is helping her work through some difficult circumstances. We love the wisdom she shares! Kristin writes:

I don’t know about y’all, but I am a control-freak, worrywart extraordinaire! I have a rough time letting go of my stuff – whether it’s possessions, my emotions, my dreams, my child, my marriage, my money, you name it – my grip has been tight! I have always been uptight and prepared for battle, per se, and on the defensive. That’s just been me…

I was told that my whole year can change if I put all my focus into one word. Why make a bunch of resolutions at the cusp of the new year that will really only be of importance for a few weeks? When your focus is on one word, it becomes your beacon, your mantra, your lighthouse, your silent partner in encouragement, and your very being.

The authors of One Word That Will Change Your Life state that, “One Word creates clarity, power, passion and life-change. The simple power of One Word is that it impacts all six dimensions of your life – mental, physical, emotional, relational, spiritual, and financial. Simply put, One Word sticks. There is a word meant for you and when you find it, live it, and share it, your life will become more rewarding and exciting than ever.”

What is my word for 2014?

{ RELEASE }

It came to me after much prayer and writing. God has been pressing on my heart to really dig deep this year and release it all to him – everything.

I don’t know how unwound I am going to get this year, but I can tell you that I’ve already seen progress. And that is the goal, really – progress, not perfection. When faced with a situation or decision, my first response should be to turn it over to God, to pray and wait for an answer. It should not be to dive into it headfirst without consulting him.

This may seem strange to some, but my husband and I opened our home to my mother about five years ago and, shortly after that, my sister and her infant son. Let me give you a brief history – my mother had sold our childhood home and then rented an apartment. She was having a hard time managing her money well, so my husband suggested that we create an apartment for her and let her live with us. In exchange for free babysitting, we could help her with her money and she wouldn’t be lonely. So we did. It went well for a while, until things were further complicated by my thirty-something sister, who called and asked if she and her infant son could stay with us for a few months because things were not going well with the baby’s father. What could we say?! So they moved in – and it’s been almost five years! We even bought a new house and moved them with us, recreating another apartment.

Although our original intent was good, my husband and I no longer feel like the situation is beneficial to them or to us. So my husband and I decided to do something different. We discussed it. We prayed about it. We put it in our God Jars (more than once!). And you know what? We decided as a team (God-husband-wife) that it was time for them to carry their own burdens and be accountable for their own lives and responsibilities. We can no longer enable them. We need to focus on the present and future needs of our family – and a peace-filled home is the right place to begin.

I {RELEASED} my control, my worries and my fears about the situation to God. He showed me that he is able and that I need to keep {RELEASING} my “stuff” to his care and he will make something good from it.

What has God pressed on your heart that you need to {RELEASE} to him?

Hey there! I’m Kristin -- wife, mother of a very talkative and pony-loving daughter, follower of Jesus, lover of all things natural, seeker of joy and naturally broken. I am learning that my brokenness is actually a good thing and I hope to share in that journey together. You can find more from Kristin at her blog, See the Shine * Be the Shine.

We're also linking with Holley Gerth again today. :)