In early January, I enjoy reflecting on the past year, meditating, and praying about who Jesus wants me to be. Last year, my one-word was HIM. I wanted Humility, to Invest in other’s lives, and More sacrificial love. Although I saw much sorrow and grief this past year, it allowed many of my relationships with others to flourish. Amidst the sorrow and grief, in humility, investment, and love, I found a beautiful community of kindred sisters waiting to uplift and encourage one another. For that I am blessed.
For this year, the Lord showed me my one-word this past November. Now bear with me, you’re going to laugh.
I can often be that half cup empty kind of gal. If you’re from the Midwest, I’m sure many of your hearts were soaring when the Chicago Cubs beat the Dodgers and made it to the World Series. As soon as the Cubbies started playing the Indians for the title, in my household, we all had honest-to-goodness anxiety!
There were three games left in the World Series, and with only one more game for the Indians to take the title home, the Cubs’ odds of winning were not in their favor. Now, usually, this is where I can get pessimistic; however, on the day that the Indians won their third game, I decided that I was going to look at the cup half filled. That’s right, the Cubbies had waited over 100 years to win the title and this was going to be our year. So game by game, I kept looking at the positive. With my man Rizzo on first, Baez on second, and Bryant on third, we were going to win!
And win we did!
After the games, I remember recognizing that I was sincerely optimistic. This was the beginning of me taking notice of a different mindset that could be achieved by simply thinking positively. I felt more joy and happiness.
My One-Word: Optimism
You know how when you start praying about something and the Lord sort of opens all sorts of doors and events in your life to confirm your hearts desires? Well, after the World Series games I started reading Heidi by Johanna Spyri.
Heidi is the story of a little Swiss girl who lost both parents and was taken by her aunt to live with her crazed grandfather at the top of a mountain in the Alps. Surprisingly, the little girl comes to adore the old man and quickly finds immense joy living with him in the mountains. Heidi captures the heart of everyone she meets, always choosing to look at things around her in a positive light.
Here’s a section in text that I saved for reflection in my commonplace journal.
“But suppose one has brought his sadness with him from Frankfurt? Can you tell me what will help him then, Heidi?”
“God will help him, if he tells Him everything and asks him to let him be happy.” said Heidi with simple conviction.
“Yes, that is true, Heidi, and it is a good thought. But suppose that it was God himself who sent the sadness – what then shall one say to Him?”
Heidi thought for a moment. She was quite sure that the good God would help anyone who asked Him to. Then presently she found the answer in the memory of her own past experience.
“Then one must wait,” she said seriously, “and say to himself, ‘The good God knows how to make happy things come from sad things; and one must not turn away from Him.’ If he just waits, and does not forget Him, he will see that God had something good in His mind all the time. When one is unhappy he thinks that he will always be so, but that is because one can never know what God is going to bring about.”
Heidi, pg. 215
This story captured my heart and had me meditating on Heidi’s sweet character night after night; I want that same vivacious spirit and optimism as Heidi!
I’m not a complete pessimist but I do struggle with battles in my mind. In order to battle negative thinking, I want to commit to memorizing 2 scriptures a month that can help me refocus on truth. I will start here.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8-9
I’ve also realized that in order to be more of an optimist, I’ll need to be content in each situation I find myself in and seek, truly seek, the good and beautiful in the scenario and people surrounding it. Just like Heidi, I want to immerse myself in helping and loving others.
I’m excited for 2017 and pray that in seeking optimism, I will find more joy, peace, and happiness this year.
How about you? What is your one-word for the year? Please share in the comments below.
Beautifully shared. Thank you!
No problem, Kathy.
Don’t have a word yet. However your blog spoke to me. Thank you. I battle being negative and a pessimist.
It can be easy to get caught up in the negative. We all do it, and praise the Lord, we can all choose to think positively and find something good in each situation we find ourselves in. Let’s keep each other accountable! 😀
Good Morning Diana, Thank you for the beautiful blog,its so inspiring. It spoke to my heart and want to be more optimistic this year too,and focus also on Jesus more,our pastor preached a message on The One Thing on new years day ,focusing on choosing what is important and that is Jesus, which was so what i needed to hear and be challenged with,Lord Bless you as you seek Him and find the desires of your heart in the coming year.Grace Raber
Thank you, Grace. God bless you too!
Thanks! Really this Past year was a roller coaster for me too… as is life always, however here we are here w/ a new year just in time to start over… I pray that God keeps using you to show His love through you and believe it, you are showing me. My one word GROW… as I think it through, well maybe Give my entire life to Jesus, Resist temptation, Overcome with prayer and Win… win my Joy in the Lord.
Diana
Grow, that is such a great word and as any seed that lands in good soil, grow it can! God bless, Diana!
Thank you Diana, That was stated perfectly 🙂 I too love the Heidi story and so this spoke to my heart. Yes we can be optimistic if we just choose to be so! I an going to do this also !! Thanks again!!
“…if we choose to be so!” I love that! Yes! 😀
“Simplify”.
That’s my word for 2017. Not so much about stuff, but about schedule. I am entering a caregiving phase of life and I want to truly be there (“presence” was my 2016 word) and enjoy the moments, and get the most out of those times I have to myself. So I’m seeking ways to simplify my schedule.
Thanks for sharing. Now I’m adding Heidi to my reading list!
I loved that portion in Heidi also! I specifically remember reading it aloud to my biggest with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. It was a very timely reminder before 2016 ushered in so much heartache in my life. It is true that God presents His wisdom to us in all manner of ways right when we need it. I’m so thankful for His faithfulness! <3 <3 Holding you accountable to a more optimistic 2017. <3 <3
Mine is two words “wait well”. I have been in a trial/storm for a quite awhile now. God’s been faithful to remind me over and over that he has me here. Unfortunately, I haven’t waited well. Instead I have argued, cried and bargained my way out of it. Well, tried anyways. I’m still here and for how long only God knows. So, here I sit determined to “wait well”. Happy New Year!
I find myself easily upset by little things going “wrong”. The Lord recently reminded me of Job’s statement “The LORD giveth and the LORD taketh away” and had me add to it – the Lord allows to be easy and allows to be hard – “Blessed be the name of the LORD.” SO this year I am trying to Bless God in the midst of things going wrong rather than complain.
Thank you, Diana, for sharing your heart and your story. As have others, I too want to acquire a copy of Heidi and read it and learn from it. I will also endeavor to pray for you and these other wonderfully honest women when I find myself needing to make better choices and I hope others will pray for me as well.
Dear Diana. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story and tesimony. I am very proud for you that you have such boldness. That you are proud to be a stay at home mom. I too am a homemaker. I am a little older than you. I have been married for 31 years and out of those years, 27 of them I have been home. I tell you this because it keeps me encouraged to keep doing what God has called me to do. I am a professional Nanny that works from home. My word for this year is, Peace. Thank you for sharing and reading my long chattery.
Healing is my word for 2017. A continuation from 2106, but it was rough. Being divorced and recovering from hip arthritis have been my theme for the past year plus. I have forward progress along both fronts – supplements for the arthritis, and Grace for the divorce. There is a saying on my living room wall “Love Never Fails” 1Cor13:8. I looked at it every day and I finally realized that it was God’s Love that never Fails, not the imperfect love that comes from humans. A beautiful lesson we all should embrace in our hearts.
Thank you Diana for the lard rendering article which led me here – I was the recipient of much more than that. God Bless you and your family in 2017!
Thanks for sharing, Tom. Wishing you a blessed new year!