2020 - Word of the Year

A little delayed, but none the less my word of 2020 is important and part of the reason this post is just now getting put to print. (inserts drumroll) 

Are you surprised? I am. The word play goes against the grain for me. It is not often that you will find me playing throughout my day. The rolling to do list means one task after the next dusk to dawn. When I think of the word play it goes directly to the definition found in the Oxford dictionary, “engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.” Makes sense, I should slow down and play with the kids and my husband. Enjoy a game of cards, read a book, swing, go sledding. I can find play in my everyday, I just have to allow myself to be part of it. For me it sounds easier than it looks. I have had to already be very intentional, to stop folding laundry and to soak in the wild card game. 

Next was to find scripture that supported my word of the year. I opened the bible app on my phone and searched “play.” I didn’t get the response I was quite expecting. It took my to Isaiah 38:20 (ESV). 

"The Lord will save me, and we will play my music on stringed instruments all the days of our lives, at the house of the Lord." 

I am not familiar with this verse which led me to digging and reading more of Chapter 38. This chapter is the story of the sickness and healing of a man name Hezekiah. Hezekiah was the thirteenth king of Judah with a strong love for the Lord. The parallel I found immediately between Hezekiah and myself was how both of us sought the Lord for our healing. When I was in the deepest moments of postpartum depression I knew I needed to depend on the Lord whole heartedly. There were and still are many moments where I rely heavily on the Lord to get me through. My obedience to the Lord is not nearly as good as Hezekiah’s but something to strive for and pray over. 

I am excited to dig in to Hezekiah’s story to better understand how his dependence on the Lord to heal freed him from sickness. There is no doubt that this freeing gave Hezekiah the ability to play and appreciate all that God has given us that much more.  My prayer for you all as I continue in 2020 will be that God will show you the calm in the chaos and how to play in the mundane. 

With heart, 
​Lisa