This is the time of the year when those of us who choose to "theme" our lives begin to listen for next year's theme.  We begin to strain our ears, hoping to hear God whisper our thought foundation; the under coating, if you will, for all we do the entire year. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, it's basically a singular thought or word or phrase that keeps us on a path throughout the year.  I heard mine two days ago.

2009 was my year to recover. I didn't blog much; I didn't do very much of anything actually.  Instead, I healed.  I healed from a hard 2008. I needed the year to put my life back into perspective.  Please don't get my wrong, 2009 was not a year of roses; anyone who knows me knows this. But I have a peacefulness I did not have this time last year; and I know more about who I am now.  I learned how to say no this year. I learned how to work on something God wanted me to do until I got it right.  I learned a lot about my marriage.  I've become firmer in my faith and in my relationships around me.  I spent the first half of the year preparing for Haiti and the second half processing it.  Haiti taught me so much more than I ever dreamed.  I learned what it means to want. I learned what hunger means, what poverty means. I've seen faith lived out.  I've been broken over and over and over and I've been home for months now.  The trip means something completely different to me now than it did when I was there.

And now for the unveiling (drum roll please). 2010 will be a year of being a blessing.  I took a year and focused on myself and I needed it. Now it's time to make the turn. There are things that I can do; crazy little things that I can actually feel a nudge saying, "that, there - do it." Obedience. Ultimately, isn't that's what it's all about? I'm just saying, yep, ok.  I got it.  I don't even know what it all really means yet. 

I think on some level, everyone can do something to bless someone else.  It doesn't take money or talent or any specific gift.  All it really takes is time. Don't say you don't have time, I don't have time.  Make time. I've learned that it's the small, insignificant moments when people reach out to others that matter the most - because those are the moments that someone did not have to reach out.  They did because they wanted to.