One Word - One Year

I was early, so I pulled my white van into place behind the other vehicles in the school's "parent pick-up" line. And as I so often do, grabbed a book out of my bag to read. I'm almost finished Mary DeMuth's book, "Everything," which I think she wrote just for me (but that's a whole other blog post).

Earlier that day I began to notice blogger friends unveiling their "one word 365" for 2013, which intrigued me. I had never heard of this project before. My mind began to turn its wheels.

I wonder what my word for 2013 could be?

It had turned into a busy day, so I didn't give it much more thought — until I began to read Mary's words.

"Frederick William Robertson wrote, 'Human nature seems to need suffering to make it fit to be a blessing to the world.' When we suffer, we become effective here and bear fruit for the next life." (DeMuth, "Everything" 178).

And in an instant I knew my word. Bear fruit. Fruit. Fruitful.

I'm not entirely sure what God has planned for me this year. I like the many directions "fruitful" can take, beyond merely "producing good results," as the online dictionary states.

May "Fruitful 2013" be a reminder for me in all that I do, no matter what it is, that the fruit produced belongs to God (Leviticus 27:30).

And as I have struggled with trust and self-dependence throughout my life, I must remain in Him because "no branch can bear fruit by itself. (I) can't bear fruit unless (I) remain joined to Him" (John 15:4).

A special thanks to Melanie at Only A Breath for the special "one word" button.

Mary DeMuth's #PIC4YEAR