2020 Word of the Year and How I Found Mine

I've never had a Word of the Year before, I guess I never found the right word, or a phrase perhaps. Maybe I didn't think about it much. But this word kind of fell into my lap; This word my friend, Julie, pointed out for me. Tada! My 2020 Word of the Year is ... JOY! 

It's part of The Caregiver's Devotional's slogan: Love, Peace, JOY, and Sappiness. These words can bring life to a caregiver, yes, even sappiness. Love, Peace, and JOY will walk us through a lot of dark places, like Anger, the Battle Zones of our minds, and Hopelessness. 






Julie gave me a journal for 2020, which I will fill with stories of JOY. Even though we caregivers cry sometimes, for no apparent reason, there is always hope and a chance for true JOY. Maybe we shouldn't look for it, maybe we should ask Jehovah Tsidkanu for it.

Julie and I studied Philippians together and I mentioned that this is a book of Joy for me. "Why," we asked. It's written by Paul when he was in prison, chained to a Roman soldier. But almost every verse is filled with JOY.

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. ~Philippians 1:3-6

It's long been my favorite book and I would recommend every caregiver to read it through over and over. It's pure JOY I tell ya! And Paul didn't find JOY under a Christmas tree. He had it while chained, mistreated, isolated, and separated from people, people he needed to spread the Good News to. 

But because the God of peace, Jehovah-Shalom, was with him, he experience that unspeakable JOY. I mean, think on these things as we take care of the everyday days in our care-giving journey.

Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and heard,and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. ~Philippians 4: 8, 9

Waking up this morning to the sound of hard rain and a sight of gloomy grey clouds, I said a quick prayer before my feet hit the floor and thanked Elohim for the rain, another day, and that life can now get back to normal—Caregiver normal that is. I remembered my Christmas presents and realized either my family and friends had read my "2019 Gift Guide for Caregivers," or everyone bought gifts for each other with exactly that individual in mind. We get each other. My family and friends are a JOY to me. 

I smiled as I brought my presents to my room and was grateful that my friend, Julie, had chosen JOY for me. Every one of her gifts, down to the tin can, which I will use for prayer requests, and Almond Joy was carefully planned out with that theme ... JOY. I'm still smiling.

2020 Word of the Year is JOY

Will you have a Word of the Year for 2020? 

Would you let me know what it is, 

and why, or perhaps how, you chose it?

The joys of after Christmas Sales