My Life in Our Father's World

New Year – New Month – New WOTY

First I want to offer my sincere gratitude to Lisa (who blogs at Lisa Notes) for once again hosting the monthly One Word Linkup. The community that she has created serves to make each of us better! Below is the challenge for January

QUESTIONS FOR YOUR MONTHLY REVIEW

In this first month with your new word, ask yourself these questions (include the answers in a blog post for our Jan. 23 linkup, if you’d like): 

A. WHERE IS MY WORD?

Where have you already seen your word? Where can you put it so you can see it more often? 

B. WHAT DOES MY WORD LOOK LIKE? What does your word look like to you? Take a photo or draw a picture or create a graphic to visualize your word. 

C. WHY THIS WORD? Why did you choose this word? Write out your answer and/or tell at least one other person. If you haven’t already, print and fill out this simple 2-page worksheet to help clarify your word. ­
SMALL GROUPS If you signed up for a small group, you should have received an email on January 10 with your group assignment.

Share with your group members (a) your One Word, (b) what you’d like to get from the group, and (c) a little about yourself.

My 2023 WOTY is Teach/Learn, so here goes…

At the risk of repeating myself, I will try to keep this brief.

Last fall I changed jobs. I used to be a preschool bus driver, who also provided classroom support and served as the library lady. Now, I am in the classroom full-time with 4 and 5-year-olds during the day and going to school a night to obtain my director credentials. Thus teach/learn was the perfect WOTY for 2023.

I may be exhausted at the end of the day but I absolutely love every minute that I get to build into the lives of young children. my students speak a variety of languages at home and have their share of struggles. My prayer is that the kiddos and their families see Jesus in me (even if they don’t understand what is different about me).

I have a couple of visual reminders that I will be using throughout the year.

See A Logo & Some Scripture for the original post about this wonderful “poster” that my precious friend Vanessa (Brave Blessed & Beautiful) created for me.

I sent a reminder to my WOTY small group to “take a picture” with their word. We are all a creative bunch so I figured that my loose interpretation of the challenge would do the trick.

Have you ever chosen a WOTY? How did it impact the following 12 months? For me, the practice is far more effective than a list of New Year’s resolutions. Each year my word builds on the changes from the prior year. God is good like that!

  • Attitude of Gratitude – 2020
  • Abide – 2021
  • Encouragement – 2022
  • Teach/Learn – 2023

13 comments

  1. I especially love the “teachers should be running airlines” quote – so true!!! That might fix some of the airlines’ problems. 🙂 What a great year you and those around you will have as you teach and learn new things.

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  2. My word is “READY.” I heard it in a sermon about Jesus’ Second Coming, how we need to be ready for that day.
    I learned how hard it is to be ready even for the daily challenges that come up surrounded by unbelievers and their “vibes.” After spending at least an hour in prayer earlier that day, when I was out with five relatives (not believers) I passed up what I recognized in hindsight as an opportunity to sow good seed, and instead said something flippant and stupid. It was humbling to be reminded that there’s nothing good in me. Praying next time I will be “ready to give an answer” even when (ESPECIALLY when) I’m the only believer in the room.

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  3. Your words are right up my alley! I teach (mostly high school English/Language Arts and history) at a school for Native American youth ❤️. I learn stuff from them every single day. Kids are the best teachers!

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  5. I’ve been choosing a word of the year for the last 3 years. My words are usually big prayers I have that feel impossible…reflecting on and praying about the word throughout the year helps remind me that NOTHING is impossible with God, and that I can trut him with everything ❤

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