Inside: I don’t know how the word I’ve chosen for this year will influence my life, but I’m confident it will guide me … in ways I can’t even imagine right now. ~
When I started choosing one word for each year in 2015, my family and I established a little tradition. We sit around the dinner table a few months before the new year and they try to guess what my new word is.
Some years they figure it out pretty easily. Other times, it takes many guesses, plus a variety of clues from me.
This year was no exception
Because Lilly was in Spain for the semester, however, our “guess-Mom’s-word” game had to wait until we were visiting her before Thanksgiving.
It was maybe our second night in Seville, and we were having dinner at a cozy restaurant. We’d already enjoyed several tapas, small shareable plates of food that Spain is known for.
As Randy and the girls started throwing out possibilities, I tried to steer them in the right direction. It’s a short word, maybe an adverb, I told them. (I had not looked up parts of speech in advance, though I have since then.)
And the winner is …
It took a while but Lilly finally guessed correctly. The scene is engrained in my mind in warm, sepia tones, which I suppose is fitting, considering that my word is now.
The dictionary describes now as “an adverb of time.” In spoken English, it’s used to signal what’s going to happen next: “Now we’re going to …”
Synonyms include at present, at the moment, currently, this minute, immediately.
And then there are all the common phrases containing now that have occurred to me since the word first slipped into my mind some months ago:
Now or never.
Now what?
Right now.
Not now.
What does it all mean?
I can’t help but wonder, as I always do.
Of all the words I’ve chosen over the years—fruit, fierce, bold, strength and remember, among others—this one is perhaps the most ambiguous. As per usual, I have no idea what it will mean to me during the next 12 months.
That said, I also have every confidence now the right word for me in 2024.
It will guide me just as its predecessors have done, in ways I can’t even imagine right now.
• • •
Do you choose a word or theme for each new year? If so, please share in the comments. If this is not a preferred practice for you, feel free to mention a new habit or mindset that you are hoping to carry with you throughout 2024.
♥ Lois
Of all the words I’ve chosen over the years, NOW is perhaps the most ambiguous. I have no idea what it will mean to me during the next 12 months, but that's OK. Click To Tweet I don't know why, but I'm confident NOW is the right word for me in 2024. It will guide me just as its predecessors have done, in ways I can’t even imagine right now. Click To TweetP.S. I’m linking up this week with One Word 2024, #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.
26 comments
Your tradition is very interesting. Most of my words have been either nouns or verbs. Last year, I got real familiar with my word, The same goes for this year. I learn a lot about myself ad my relationship with the Lord. I am numbers 6 and 7 on this month’s link-up.
Cecilia, isn’t it interesting how God uses our words to teach us things about ourselves and draw us closer to Him? I guess we shouldn’t be surprised, since He is “the Word.” Good to hear from you this week. 🙂
NOW is a wonderful word, Lois. It makes me wonder and imagine all sorts of things to focus on spiritually with the Lord and our Christian walk. And I love how your family plays the guessing game. Fun! God bless.
Good to hear from you this week, Karen! I’m praying that God will help me focus my attention on the things that matter now and for eternity, not the stuff that just steals time away.
NOW – what a great word! My friend recently wrote that that was her word last year, and this year she has rearranged the letters so her 2024 word is “OWN.” 🙂
My D-Group (women’s discipleship group) has an annual weekly challenge of choosing our word and then finding a Bible verse to remind us. Example: When JOY was my word for 2022, my verse was Psalms 28:7.
I felt like God put the word “abundance” on my heart for this year. I’m anticipating quite a bit of change with remarriage and blending of families, and I am praying that there is an abundance of joy that goes along with all of the transformation my life will undergo this year. 🙂
Abundance seems like a wonderful word for all that 2024 holds for you, Brie. I hope all the changes go well and that the year is filled with many joys and blessings! I also love what your friend did by morphing now into own. 🙂
I’m so excited that you’ve chosen Now! It was my One Word in 2015, and it turned out to be a great choice. I’ll look forward to all the ways you’ll find it useful in your life in 2024. It’s a word that I still have to return to again and again. One of my oft-repeated mantras for my wandering mind is to recenter on: “This. Here. Now.”
Lisa, that’s so cool that now was your One Word in 2015! I think I might have to adopt your mantra: “This. Here. Now.” 🙂
Such a cool tradition!! And what a word. I’m so looking forward to reading how the Lord uses “now” in your life, friend!
He’s already using it, Bethany … there seems to be a little fire in my soul that is helping me tackle some projects that have been on my to-do list way too long! Hugs, friend!
What a precious tradition—to have your family guess your word each year! I think the blessing of having an “ambiguous” word for the year is no expectations, so your mind and heart are curious and open. My word is Relax, and it too, is ambiguous. But I am drawn to the phrase “learn from me” in Matthew 11: 28-30. So, there will be learning, for sure!
Relax is a wonderful word, Lynn! I think you’re right about the lack of expectations for our words … they will unfold how God wants them to, I think. 🙂
Now is a great WOTY, Lois! It reminds me of the song, “Come, Now is the Time to Worship” by Brian Doerksen. My WOTY is cultivate.
I love your word, Lisa. And also that song … we used to sing in church choir many years ago in Arkansas. Happy New Year, friend!
What a great word Lois. I had to smile at your family tradition of guessing your word each year. Mine for 2024 is Mindfulness.
Visiting today from IE
Great word, Paula. Have a good weekend!
That’s so cool that your family makes a game out of guessing your word for the year, Lois. 🙂 Beautiful family pic! I’m looking forward to what God will teach you with your word “now.” I don’t do a word of the year anymore. Last year I started writing a Bible verse that particularly touched me each week in my weekly planner. I enjoyed going deeper into it throughout the week. So I’m continuing it. Love and blessings to you!
Trudy, I love your practice of going deeper with writing and mulling over one verse each week. And yes, the guessing game is something I really look forward to every year. 🙂 I hope you are staying warm this weekend. Love and hugs to you!
I love that you chose this word, Lois. It will be interesting to see the journey it will take you on, for every word surely takes us on a journey if we let it. By the time, I was half way through this post, I found myself humming. You are the one who encouraged me to share the songs which come to mind. “Still the greatest treasure remains for those who gladly choose You now.” So now I will share the song your words brought to mind. May He be your greatest treasure in the days ahead! {hugs}
https://youtu.be/i6guWKnmxYU?si=J3pwu2qG9OhP6h_1
Aw, Joanne … I am SO glad you shared this song here. It took me straight back to my days of singing in the choir at our church in Arkansas. I still know and love every word (except I think there’s a verse at the end that we didn’t sing in the choir.) Hugs, friend.
“Now” makes me think of soaking up the present moment. It’s good to look back or ahead, but sometimes I do either to the point of missing out on enjoying what’s going on right in front of me.
I don’t do a word for the year. I used to sit down some time after everyone went back to school and work and look over some goals for the new year. It’s not a bad time to take stock. But I haven’t the last few years. This year, so far, has been so chaotic that I can’t deal with much of anything beyond. “now.” 🙂
I hear you, Barbara. It boggles my mind that it is already Jan. 12. I hope things will settle down for both of us as the weeks go on. I love your thought about “soaking up the present moment.” That’s one way now is speaking to me too.
It’s clear to me that we are in very different stances coming into 2024! NOW makes something in my gut tense up—and it’s not even my word!
I will throw Lisa’s word into the mix and say how CURIOUS I am to see where this alarming word will take you!
Aw, Michele … I appreciate your 100 percent candid response to my word! 🙂 Isn’t it wonderful that we can each be in different stances and God can meet us and use us, right where we are? (I hope your gut is relaxed by now … sorry about that!)
what a lovely scene this photo captured, Lois. and your word is such a fascinating prompt as you move ahead. i can’t wait to see how this plays out for you, friend. these months ahead are ripe with possibilities, aren’t they …
happy new year.
“Ripe with possibilities.” Yes, indeed, Linda! So thankful God is going before us, every step of the way. Hugs, friend.