Intentions and Joy

Last year, my “one word” was intentional.  Part of that of course, meant being intentional in my parenting … well, let’s be honest, most of the word was geared toward my parenting!  To that extent, on New Year’s Eve 2010, I sat down with my girls and had them reflect on the past year and also think about the upcoming year … with intentionality.

We thought about and “assigned” a scripture, and talked about goals for each of them for 2011.  I had prints made of their verses and keep them in close view as a daily reminder.  Truth be told, some crazy life events happened last year and all my “intentionality” didn’t go quite the way I’d intended.

Even though the execution didn’t go quite as planned, I loved the premise and the girls loved it too.  So at the beginning of this year I decided to give it another go!

What I’m doing differently this year?  I’m praying over their 2012 goals and verses.  Last year, I closed the notebook and lost it.  Literally.  I couldn’t find it this year.  I had to print my post from last year.  This year, I keep the notebook right with my Bible and each morning I pray over one of the girls, their goals, and how their scripture will impact their life.

Anyway.

Our lives are still turned upside down, but if I can stay focused on my own goals for the girls and be prayerful {how did I miss that last year!?} over their goals, I believe God will be faithful to us and breathe life into our intentions.

Another thing I’m doing with the girls that might encourage you … not only am I joining up with Ann this year for the Joy Dare, but I’m having my girls join too.

Ann says this:

Take the the Joy Dare. Isn’t that what Aristotle said– “We are what we repeatedly do.”

Then Christianity isn’t an act — but our faith is expressed only in our habits.

A habit of not complaining, but the habit of giving thanks; the habit of not worrying, but a habit worshipping. The habit of repeatedly giving God praise that our lives might become a prayer. Small is always the leverage of large. It’s one moment after the other, the small moments that turn a life. It’s the small actions that can change a life.

It’s habits that can imprison you and it’s habits that can free you and when thanks to God becomes a habit, so joy in God becomes your life.

Not only do I have this exact {deep} desire for myself … I have it for my girls as well.  I believe it’s oh-so-important for this young generation to take hold of this habit and begin to experience a continuous life of “joy in God.”

i'm a child of God, mother of 4 daughters, wife to an amazing guy, photographer, blogger, twitterer, living with MS … and blessed beyond belief! you can chat with me here @tmstier, be encouraged here {tsj} photography, and find my new e-book here 31 days of faith.

Tracie

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