My One Little Word of 2018

Does this happen to anyone else: You hear a word and then keep hearing that same word over and over again? I was talking to a guy friend about the most random thing and I used the word patina in our conversation. He said he heard that word for the first time the day before when he was watching Fixer Upper with his son {yep, the Fixer Upper love spans all generations!}. I've been thinking on my one little word of 2018 for a few weeks now. The same word keeps popping up and today as I was having my quiet time and I think I finally settled on it. My word is delegate. 

My One Little Word of 2018

Delegate

So I started out thinking about using the verb tense of the word. 

To entrust a task or responsibility to another person. 

Let me start by saying that I'm not real good at this. I'm actually really bad at this. I like to be in control and I have always had a hard time asking for help. I would rather complain, be upset and hold a grudge and do something myself than ask for help. Yep, it's very mature of me.
I'm getting older and I've learned a few things with age. One of those life lessons is that we are all gifted differently. 
I've spent years comparing myself to other people, wondering why my gifting isn't hospitality or photography or empathy. I see those qualities in the people that surround me and I want them as my own. I long for them when really I need to be celebrating them. 
I want to spend the year focusing on what I am good at while acknowledging those around me with gifts that aren't the same as mine. And then I want to delegate. 
I want others to shine in their gifting {my OLW for 2016 coincidentally} so that I can spend more time shining in my own. 
Then I sat back and thought about the noun. 
At the start of the year, I decided to start a daily scripture reading and I'm using the SOAP {scripture, observation, application, prayer} method of study. I haven't done that since high school, but thought that I needed to get back to basics. 

A person sent or authorized to represent others

We just celebrated the fact that God sent his son Jesus in human form to be our savior. 
I know we aren't too far into the year, but every verse I've been reading so far has had some version of the same message and that is to release control; to delegate to my delegate. My plans are not nearly as good as His plans are and if I can step back and quit making every road jagged and loopy, God can straighten out my path. 

So what will this look like?

I'm going to start reclaiming some of my time and hire out or trade work for some of the things that I don't like to do or that I'm not gifted in. 
I am going to daily give control over to God for the direction of the day.
I'm going to try to stop making so many quick decisions but instead step back and take a breath as I think things out.
I'm going to ask for help and receive it graciously. 
I can't wait to get started in the new year by focusing on this word. If you want to see some of my past words so that you can get started by making your own, check out these posts:
My One Word Intent My One Word Shine My One Word Excess
If you already have a word, I want to hear it. What word are you focusing on in the new year?
**if you are looking for a beautiful worksheet, you can read more from my friend Michelle and print off her anthem worksheet. It's gorgeous!**
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