The final challenge for my One Word 2025 has arrived in December. It's hard to believe that I've completed another year and learned a lot more about my One Word Resilience than I understood when I began a relationship with the word in January of 2025. Before the year ends, I want to take some time to reflect on a few things regarding Resilience.
Resilience stuck with me throughout the entire year...including December. It was faithful to show up everywhere and in places that I hadn't even suspected it would show up. A few of the places that I found it reminding me of its presence were in my daily Bible reading, in books I would be reading (some fiction and some non-fiction), in relationships, in health issues, in weather conditions. Those are just a few of the places where we deepened our relationship.
I don't know if I could say that we met on a daily basis, but I know several times a month there would be something that Resilience wanted to teach me or take me deeper into.
Sometimes I would baulk at the "teaching moments" that Resilience had for me. Other times I greeted my friend with a "knowing" that all would be good in the end. Our relationship was a bit frazzled at the beginning, but as time went on and I realized that Resilience was showing me these things for my own good, I became less apt to struggle. I wouldn't say that I greeted my friend with open arms, but I can truthfully say that the deeper our relationship went I became more knowing and leaning into the fact that in the end, all would be good.
The reason I can call Resilience my friend is because it most certainly caused me to grow. I started out in January thinking that I was already resilient, but I soon realized that wasn't as true as I thought. I began to grow more in my character and not fight the things that God allowed in my life to teach me about Resilience, because after all, it truly was HIM who was teaching me and building my character to conform me more to the image of Christ.
Resilience is a word that requires a willing and submissive heart, which I didn't always possess...and probably still don't 100% of the time. I'm thankful to have grown in this particular aspect of my character as a Christian. Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes, because it will help to develop perseverance in their life, but I would also offer it with caution (as many of you, my readers, did for me in January-March) because it does require definite obedience and submission to soften the heart.
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What a perfect image for the ending of your post! Resilience looks for growth even in less than ideal circumstances.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Michele. Yes, resilience is always looking for growth in less-than-ideal circumstances. I think that is its nature. It's been such a good year getting more acquainted with it.
DeleteObedience and submission, Christ modeled it and we need to make it our business. You really stuck to your word of the year, Dianna. May God continue to bless you with more love for him and a yielding heart of obedience in this new year. I read this quote from Charles Hodge this morning commenting on 1 John 2:1. "The advocate, so exalted, so tender, furnished with an availing plea, with such solid reasons why those whom he pleads should no be condemned, ever lives to make intercession for us. His advocacy is uninterrupted and will never fail. He never can be absent from the court in which our case is to be decided. He is always accessible. We can at all times go to him, at all times find him, no matter where we are or what may be the emergency."
ReplyDeleteA very Merry Christmas to you and yours!
DeleteEllen, thank you for your kind words...and for sharing the quote by Charles Hodge. It says it all, yes?
It's been a great word this year. Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and Carroll.
Thank you, Karen, for being a faithful reader of how Resilience has worked in my life this year. Merry Christmas to you and Ken.
DeleteI can tell that resilience was the perfect word for you this year. We all could learn more about how to bend without breaking.
ReplyDeleteVisiting from One Word 2025 - mylifeinourfathersworld.com
Barb H. thank you for the times you've stopped by this year and read about my journey with Resilience. I appreciate your kind words of encouragement.
Deletebeautiful! If we are alive we are resilient in some aspect I guess. I keep trying and showing up. Merry Christmas!!
ReplyDeleteKaren, you are a blessing, and I have learned so much about resilience from knowing you over the years. Thank you for your faithfulness.
DeleteThank you, dear Melanie, for your kind words. I have to say that without the help of Lisa's prompts each month, some of these things may have not stood out quite as much to me. I'm looking forward to 2026 and what is in store for me there with self-control.
ReplyDeleteI think Resilience was a good word for you to choose for 2025.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Thank you, Jan. I do also.
DeleteI sure enjoyed reading your posts on Resilience this past year, Dianna! It's such a beautiful trait that we'd all do well to grow in, and I'm glad it was a good friend to you.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Lisa. I can't say that I enjoyed every moment of it, but I am thankful for the lessons it taught me. I'm sure looking forward to another year with the One Word family! I have already been making notes. 🙂
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