2019

2013 was the first year I chose one word for my resolutions. It seemed simpler-one focus rather than a dozen soon to be abandoned goals. It went pretty well. I chose one word subsequent years as well. Over time, though, I realized something. During those years, God brought other lessons into my life, unrelated to those words. And it's hardly my place to say, "Um, excuse me? I'm focused on this ONE THING right now. Come back later." Those lessons weren't short ones, either. Or necessarily new ones. In fact, the same lessons keep coming up over and over. To the point where I get discouraged and say, "God, didn't we cover this material already? Did I fail the first time? How many times are we going over this?" Turns out we go over it until we learn it. What I'm Doing Instead of One Word So this year I decided: no need to search for a new word. I just need to keep visiting the old ones. Who knows, maybe they're my lessons for life? I keep learning till I die? Here's hoping I'm not quite that slow a learner. And in the interest of authenticity and encouragement and general self-disclosure, I'm going to share those lessons with you. They'll probably be familiar to you (they could also be titled, "The Themes of Gina's Blog in the Past Five Years"). I hope they might spur your own Life Lesson List. Slow Down Whenever I think I've slowed my life down, God points out a way that it could be even slower. Pretty soon I might be going backward. But He reminds me that He does not value efficiency and productivity the way I do; they are not His goal for me. While they have their place, I want to be someone who journeys well with people, and with my own soul. It is hard to do that when I'm running. I want to move at a pace that allows me to hear from the Spirit, to pay attention to the needs around me, to have space to meet them. Hopefully, I will become someone whose spirit invites others to rest and life. I never want my soul to have to catch up to my body. So I will keep seeking a healthy pace. Love in the Little Things One of the biggest things I hope happens when I slow down is the space and awareness to see how I can love others better. This phrase, "love in the little things" has swirled in my mind for months. It's recognizing the small ways I could love the people God puts in my life. It's often the ways that, if I never did them, they won't notice. Like sending a card or a text letting someone know I'm thinking of them. Making a meal. Stopping by to say hi. A gift. Honestly, an extra minute of conversation when my temptation is to stay on task. Aside from loving God, loving others…