2014 In One Word

Years seem to come and go more quickly than I remember as a child. 2013 was no exception. Looking back it was some of the best of times.  And there were days I struggled to keep myself afloat.  One thing is certain, Christ has walked this road with me.  He has been by my side when the tears flowed and when my heart rejoiced. To say I am thankful may be an understatement.



This new year has begun and already I know that Christ has ordained some vital, life giving things for me and my family in 2014. What, well, I can't say for sure.  However, I can say that when considering this new year, the word He laid on my heart was Less. That little four letter word has such a BIG meaning.

Sitting down to flesh out some of what might be less in my life this new year resulted in a list, a conglomeration, of decisions that are made daily. Decisions to make less of worldly possessions and passions that unhealthily draw me away from responsibilities and relationships that have eternal value. Choices in healthy eating habits, daily exercise, removing clutter from my home, thought patterns, healthy media boundaries and choices of responsibilities outside the home, just to name a few.

Romans 6:12-14

12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

Some of those decisions may seem trivial, but for me, they are vital.  Because I have been made alive in Christ, I am seeing the importance of using my whole body as an instrument of righteousness.  Freely living in the grace God has provided.  Just as Romans 6:12-14 says. 2014 will bring less of me...my thinking, habits and choices.  It will reflect Christ and how He has changed my life.

What is your one word for 2014?  What are you hoping this year will bring?

Fences

A week out from Thanksgiving and we are slowly moving back into a routine. Three states in three days with three boys under the age of five is rough on a gal. Especially when the 2 year old prefers demands his own bed for hours on end between say midnight and 4 AM for two nights in a row.

We were blessed to be able to stay with family we haven't had much of a chance to see over the past 8 years. So it was wonderful to be around them, even for the few short hours we did have. We stayed the first night with my husband's aunt in Tennessee. I love his aunt and uncle! They have always made me feel like part of the family. Acceptance is a beautiful thing. This couple has the most incredible home. It's more than a house; it truly feels like being at home. The boys bounced off stairs, pulled numerous toys from their unknown habitat. They played inside and outside. We went to see the train and even found a playground. The boys played upstairs, downstairs and under everyone's feet.

For the first time, and I'm not exaggerating, I let them be kids at someone else's house. I was a little apprehensive at first but decided it would be best, for them and for me. And here are a few things I learned.

1. My boys need fences not leashes. They are children that need to be trained not animals that need to be broken. I must allow them freedom to explore, to roam, to learn. Freedom to find out who they are and what they can achieve.




2. My boys will be what I make or break them to be. I have the opportunity now to set my boys up for success or for failure. Not just in a future business sense. Now is when they will learn how to be the men they will become.

3. There is safety and solace in boundaries. By setting boundaries for them, I am allowing them to take the reigns from time to time. Giving them a safe place to learn and explore. Which also means that sometimes their decisions may not be the best ones. However, there are times that making bad decisions is punishment enough.

Thankful for family, faith and fences!