I don’t normally pick a “word” for the year. I always have goals but never a word. This year it was a challenge of my Bible study to pray about a word, complete it with a correlating attribute of God and scripture. I thought about REST as I am naturally a “doer” and motherhood is definitely making me slow down in certain ways. But it’s also making me want to BE more in certain ways. As I was also being convicted of consumerism in the new year (like many millennials) I began thinking of how much I intake- of things, of social media, of relationships that make ME feel good. But what’s the opposite of consume…?!

CULTIVATE.

I want to CULTIVATE relationships…with my husband and my son, with friends, with the Lord and with my neighbors.

I want to CULTIVATE wisdom and knowledge in my life…not just ask for answers from God.

I want to CULTIVATE income for my family… not just spend it.

I want to CULTIVATE thoughts, encouragement, even joy on social media…not just be a consumer of it.

And in like true type A (or type 1, or INTJ) fashion, all those categories have subcategories and action points 😉 (see below).

BUT FIRST:

Because I struggle with seeing myself as creative … and therefore a cultivator, the two scriptures I choose were inspired by a @risenmotherhood podcast on Creativity in Motherhood. Two of the points were:

1. Jesus Christ is the Creator of all things.

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” Colossians 1:16

2. We were made in His image.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 ESV

Once I believe that because I’m made in the image of God, the creator of all things, I can then believe I have the capacity to create. Now I am not an artist in any traditional form… but that doesn’t mean I don’t have creativity in other ways… like organizing or making meals!

So here we are… my organized list of ways I want to cultivate this year in relationships and finances… I spared listing all of my categories (knowledge/wisdom), social media, traditional art, healthy) but if you want more ideas let me know…maybe a part 2…?

Cultivate relationships:

1. With the Lord through quiet times and reading through the Bible this year!

2. With my husband: by being hospitable in our own home, dinner conversations without our phones, one date a month without Freeland (🤞🏽), focusing on physical touch.

3. With Freeland: Undistracted awake time talking & playing with him. Getting to know his personality and seeing his development as a primary priority.

4. With neighbors and friends: purposely meeting neighbors and getting to know them in order to serve and share the Gospel. Being ready to ASK questions of friends that cultivate intimacy…rather then waiting to be asked.

Cultivate financial prudence:

1. Grocery shop once a week & stick to a budget (ordering online for Walmart pick-up has been helping with this. I can see how much I am spending before checking out and don’t grab things I see but don’t need). Also, TheWholeFoodDiary has definitely been an inspiration! Check her out to be inspired by her minimal waste grocery hauls and meal plans… and to see how she cultivates her children while doing it!

2. Buying coffee less! I’ll spare you the details but I’m working on slowly cutting down … it’s a bad and expensive habit!

3. Having specific savings goals… research shows if you know what your saving for specifically it’s easier to do so. Naming our saving accounts this year for specific things we want to do and / or purchase!

4. Listen to one finance podcast a week… because I need help!

5. Maybe start cultivating income… it is still a little hard for me not to be working. I’m SO grateful to be home with Freeland and would NOT trade it for a full time job right now. But looking to the near future I do want to be praying for an opportunity that fits our family where I still gets to work that side of my brain AND potential contribute to our family income.

Ok… like I said, I’m a doer. But I want to be a faithful doer if good works, ones that the Lord has prepared before the beginning of time for me to do (Eph 2:10).

Did you pick a word this year? I’d love to hear what it is and the meaning behind it!