Happy New Year

Happy New Year!  So what are your hopes and wishes for this fresh new year?  Today is a day of new beginnings.  Some of us will excitedly and optimistically make resolutions, some of us will make great new plans and some of us will just take a nap and hope 2018 will be sprinkled with some laughter, fun and good health. 

We got home from a wonderful trip to Kansas last night but with 7 in a Chevy Traverse, leg room was not plentiful but quiet time to think and pray certainly was.  I've been thinking about my "word" for the year.  I seemed to get nowhere with that...or so it seemed.  Somewhere in Illinois yesterday afternoon I was beginning to give up in frustration.  I was hoping for a big fancy word, maybe one packed with tough stuff to slug my way through or a smart word that would inspire me to study up and get smart.  I kept coming up blank! To be honest, I always secretly hope for a sparkly word to make me seem holy and reassure me I'm doing just what God wants me to be doing but last night when we pulled in the garage, I still didn't have  clue.  But this morning sitting under a Christmas quilt next to the Christmas tree, I got my word.

I was just sitting in the quiet house, enjoying the glow from the tree, sipping hot coffee and it hit me.  My word was clear as a bell!  It's not a fancy, smart or sparkly word at all.  It isn't a hard word, an impressive word or a holy word at all.  My word is BE.  Just be...that's it...that's all I got.  On cup of coffee number 2 I began to see what he was asking me!

Before I crawl out from under the cozy blanket and prepare for the sixty plus guests that will be coming this afternoon, I think this is what my word means...

BE quiet...listen for my voice
BE still...sit with me and trust me with the details
BE silent more often...just shut up and pause
BE mine...I love you more than anyone else; let me show you just how much
BE content...I've got it covered with goodness left over
BE open...I have surprises, challenges and grace you can't even imagine
BE restful...I can do more things in a  blink than you can do in a year...let me do the heavy lifting
BE forgiving, merciful, honest, cheerful
JUST BE!  Don't be in charge...JUST BE!

My word is a gift.  It's permission to surrender, slow down and put my hand in his.  I was tempted to sit longer and map out how to "do" this word, but instead I will pull out my Rosary, pour another cup of coffee and just BE...he'll show me how to BE this year.

May the peace of Christ bless you and those you love this day and throughout this beautiful new year!