Together.

For those of you who don't know, at the start of a new year, many bloggers like to choose a single word that will stand as a goal or anthem for the coming year. I've played along for the past couple, each time asking the Lord to give me a word that I would need, that would help my focus throughout that year.

In 2011, He gave me "Look," because apparently my eyes were closed to His work in my life and in those around me. It was a perfect word, and truly helped me see a bigger picture when challenges came.

In 2012, God gave me "Hope," because He knew I'd need that word, over and again (even though a lot of times, I'd read the word back to Him with a furrowed brow and a question mark at the end.)

This year, well, today, which is January 1, 2013, He gave me a new word. And He gave it to me through this.

I took this photo today with my phone. It was cold; I left my sweater in the car and was near to shivering. But kids, you know how beautifully wild they are. They had to go in, had to partake in the wildness of the sea and I know better now not to prohibit them, but instead to let the natural consequences of discomfort later teach a lesson if one needs to be taught at all.

My daughter, the hot-blooded fish that she is gets pulled to water magnetically. It's just in her, so I didn't bat an eye as she soaked her jeans well up past her knees. They both literally frolicked in the whitewater like ponies on a spring day.

A while later, after a stroll, the kids, my husband, and I perched on a rock overlooking the water dotted black with surfers. We had a little family meeting. We talked about the coming year and the potential adventures on which the Lord might have us embark. "No matter what," my husband promised, "we'd be together."

This afternoon, I stared at this photo on my phone. And then I heard, or rather saw, the word again: together.

I like to tumble thoughts over in my head again and again until I'm familiar with their shape and I've pressed through each corner. "Together" was not only to mean the four of us in my family. "Together" was God and I. Hand in hand. Staring at the tumult, the chilling tide and threatening clouds of tomorrow. "Together" was peaceful and strong despite stinging discomfort.

Tonight, the thoughts tumbled still, and I searched the Bible for a phrase in my head until I landed on this verse.

I have set the Lord always before me;
because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Psalm 16:8

And what else is there to say?

The waves of 2013 will come, and perhaps I'll feel alone. Perhaps God knows that. And so, on Day 1, He speaks to me his friendship, his unfailing companionship. He says, "No, no. You will not be alone, my daughter. We will be together."

Together, my family and I will follow the Lord and say Yes to life's adventures.

And together, God and I will stand peaceful and strong.

Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Happy New Year.


{and pssst...do you have a special word for the year?}