“Look at everything always as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time: Thus is your time on earth filled with glory.”
~A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith
I’m beginning the new year a little on the “momento mori”/morbid side. I blame it on a few things: reading a few books about the elderly and end of life issues, spending the second Christmas without my grandmothers, and listening to George W. Bush’s touching eulogy for his father. Now in my 30’s, I’m realizing that life just goes by so fast…and it makes me think, When it’s my turn to go, what would I want to be remembered for?
I still haven’t finished reflecting on this, but three things stand out:
- I want to be someone of great faith. I want to trust completely. I want to be a dependable steward for those who ask for my prayers. I want others to see Christ in me through my actions and maybe sometimes even my words.
- I want to be someone filled with gratitude. I want to be thankful for everything, the good and the hard. Especially the hard.
- I want to be someone who really sees you. I want to be someone who walks with you, rejoices with you, suffers with you. I want to be someone who supports you and makes you feel loved.
I’m not particularly good at any of those things yet, so hopefully God will allow me many more years to practice. To wrap up all of those big goals, I chose notice for my “one little word” for 2019. Noticing – really noticing – means to live with eyes wide open. Observe, be curious and look at the world in awe. I’m hoping that noticing will lead to gratitude, which will lead to contentment, which will lead to a greater desire to serve others. Bring it on, 2019.
what a good word…notice!! I think us mommas can very easily get caught in life that we forget to breathe and enjoy it. I was just telling myself, to look up and smile while I shopped on a quick trip to the grocery store the week before Christmas.
Yes, I totally agree! Lately, I've spent too much time with my head down, just powering through, and not really taking the time to intentionally seek all that is good. I definitely need a reset in 2019.
love, love, love. …it seems we are thinking along the same lines and i love your spin on this – a beautiful plan and beautifully said.
Yes! I loved your word too. Looking forward to seeing where they take us this year.