So back in 2020, my word of the year was “Focus”, with Proverbs 4:25-27 to go along with it. It reads, ” Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”
Sometimes I feel like I’m chasing rabbits. Have too many irons in the fire. I have a dream, that I’m trying to turn into a plan, to simplify and focus on what is really important to me. I feel like I have tried like Paul said and be all things to all men, and not in a good way. I have reminded myself that Paul and I are in slightly different situations. (Only slightly 😉) When I first started thinking about “focus”, I had an unformulated picture in my head. I knew what needed taking care of, but not how to make it happen. And honestly, I still don’t. But I know my vision has shifted somewhat since then, and my idea of what it all will look like has changed. I’m working on learning my assets and how to strengthen and use them, and on how to compensate for my weaknesses.
My focus is making sure my family is taken care of. And that might look a little different than I thought it would 3 years ago. I want to focus on building our businesses, and on how I can better serve those around me. Using my strengths to do what I can, and then be an encouragement to others to use theirs, instead of trying to do it all myself. I want to quit finding so many rabbit trails to go down and stay on track. Clear cut goals, a set destination, and eyes straight ahead. Both in the spiritual and physical realms.
When the pandemic hit and things slowed down, I was forced to slow down and really think about my life and what I love about it and what I wanted to change about it. What’s important and what’s not. What I can control and what I can’t. How I choose to react to what is out in front of me. While I didn’t love the way the world looked at that point in time, I started to love how God was using it to change me.
I told 2020 to bring it, and bring it 2020 did. Lots of things have changed since then, but my focus is more than ever on God and what He wants from me, and my family and how to meet their needs. And everything else will either fall into place or fall by the wayside because it is no longer important.
2020 forced me to focus.
2021 taught me how to start embracing myself, flaws and all.
2022 inspired me to inspire others.
And 2023 has made me want to let God’s love shine out of me.
What is your focus on?
