Can you name one word- a word which will cause you to reflect, to inspire, to encourage you and others for the year ahead? This was the challenge presented to our group last night.  We were invited to contemplate beloved items from our past and present, to recall and perhaps reminisce over places and times which had significant meaning to us. Our last assignment was to consider acts which helped us spiritually or to select acts which allowed us to enjoy our time with the Lord.

Each of these assignments was timed for three minutes. When you recollect objects, times, events and places in your life can you grasp just one word which will motivate you for the duration of the year? The speaker for our program began this undertaking several years ago. As a result she has designed her chosen “word of the year” as inscribed tokens. She is reminded daily of her words and the impact they have on herself and others.

If each of you readers stopped for a moment and thought about your life and circumstances, can you think of just one word which you can use daily for the remainder of the year? Can you envision how you might be able to not only motivate your own actions, but those of others if you chose a word which could bring comfort every day of the year?

As our speaker noted, our words change depending upon the circumstances of our lives. There are times we are ecstatic with the status of our lives. Yet other times our lives cause us to be more melancholy. Our word needs to embolden us for the duration of our year and the changes each week may bring.

Jon Foreman noted, “Words have incredible power. Words create worlds. The words we use define ourselves and the world around us. They shape our reality. Our words determine our ideologies.”

I was a youngster when I first heard the English-language children’s rhyme, “sticks and stones may break my bones, But words shall never hurt me.” Even though the rhyme is intended as a defense against name-calling and verbal bullying, intended to increase resiliency, avoid physical retaliation and to remain calm,” it would be almost impossible to find a person whom has never been deeply wounded by words.

Words can cause deep and permanent scars on person’s hearts and emotions. And so it was during our group presentation last evening, it was important our words would bring joy, peace, support and assurance no matter what the status of our lives.

Our chosen “word” for the year should be like God’s in Isaiah 55:10-11 KJV, “As the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven…so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void.” God is reminding us His word will accomplish what He desires and achieves the purpose for which He sent it. As precipitation comes upon the earth, it benefits the growth of crops and sustaining life. His word always fulfills His good purposes.