One Word for 2015: Receive

When the word showed up, it was love at first sight. I knew without a doubt it was “the one” — my word for 2015!

As in, “Let earth, receive, her king” on a wider level. And on a more personal one, “May Roxane receive (and recognize) the blessings that are on their way.”

The above photo exemplifies the word well to me. I see the best things in life in terms of light. The good, honorable, beautiful things. In the photo I also see my daughter, second from left. What does the light these young people hold beckon? What will it bring?

To me, this word implies so much more than what one might perceive at first glance. It is a word that indicates much has come before. Preparations have been made, prayers have been said, all that is left is the willing reception. Perhaps that’s the key: willing. Am I? I want to be!

Right now, I feel less pursuer (my word from a couple years ago — see other words of the year here, here and here) and more being in a place of openness to the good things about to be laid in my life.

2014 ended with a truly beautiful Christmas.

There was so much receiving going on through these sacred gifts.

Nothing says reception like this:

Sometimes, though, what is received may be a little hard initially, like the visit to my father’s grave. But had my sister not suggested it, and I not been open, I would have missed the opportunity to see what the Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Mandan, N.D., does for their heroes at year’s end. I am grateful we took the time to go. The hundreds of wreaths with their red bows made my heart feel so peaceful.

Even this day, as my mother and I bent down to read what the tag on the wreath said…

…the reception was already in motion. I was already receiving, in this case, solace that my father, who died Jan. 11, 2013, is just as much a part of our lives as ever. My grief has fallen to a place of receptivity to how I might honor him best in the time I have left on this good earth, rather than wishing for something that can not be. I accept, and in turn, I am open to receiving.

Mind you, in some ways “receive” can be a scary word, but only in the absence of trust. Because I want to work on trust in 2015 — full trust in God — “receive” is well fit, since these two are an appropriate pairing. In fact, “trust” makes a perfect secondary word for 2015.

I can only begin to make out what my 2015 reception will be, but I’ve got a few heads-ups in the immediate future. Right away at the top of the year, I will travel to D.C. with my youngest daughter to take in the March for Life — my second such trip — and be part of the reception by our school of the event’s lead banner, which we will carry proudly.

Just beyond that, another truly magnificent gift is on its way that I will gladly and gratefully receive. It’s the gift of the completion of a project, which started several years ago, and ended in a beautiful friendship with this gorgeous girl, Ramona Trevino.

Roxane, Ramona, Receive, and the title of our book, “Redeemed by Grace.” Now that’s a lot of R’s! For a peek of what’s to come, go here. At the bottom, a link will take you to further information about our forthcoming gift.

I’m ready, humbly so, for I know that God is the author of my life, and with the goal of trust in my heart, receive should be achievable. I desire to be willing to receive whatever comes, with trust that God loves me and my family so much that wherever we are led, it will be for His glory. There’s no greater feeling than knowing you are in safe and loving hands, and if I can live this attitude out the whole of 2015, the year will end with gratitude.

The clean, fresh slate is always wondrous, always new, always hopeful. Let the reception of all that is good (and then some) begin!

By the way, if you’re one of those people who is into saints like I am, you might find this “patron saint for 2015” generator by Jennifer Fulwiler a fun exercise. There are so many saints we can learn about and lean on. Who will your patron saint for 2015 be?

Q4U: What is your one word for 2015? Go ahead. Dare to choose one. It’s a fun exercise in both anticipating and navigating the year ahead.