As I stand in the shower literally yanking knots that have turned to near dreads in my 3 day unwashed hair, I shout to my husband that I may not be out until morning. To no quick avail, I literally use the rest of the bottle of conditioner to saturate my poor neglected hair. I then exit myself from the shower, conditioner still in tact to which my two year old daughter tells me I look like I have a roller coaster on my head.

A highlight in case you aren’t aware: I’m a stay at home (working) mom of five ages 2-10. Childcare provider to 4 precious children whom our family loves. Fur mom of a rambunctious 11 month old lab. Wife to a hardworking hunk with multiple jobs. The list goes on just as for the rest of you.

Does my job description justify why sometimes my hair ends up in such neglect to look like a roller coaster on top of my head?

As 2016 came to an end, my pastor challenged us to choose a word for the new year. A word we would agree to live by and expectant to see His glory. I actually chose two words, though neither seemed to feel concrete.

2017 showed up and I still hung on to those two words in this small clear box above my bed. As I spent New Year’s Day hustling through rooms in my house, organizing and decluttering, I spent many hours in deep thought about this upcoming year. Out of no where, I recall my thoughts collaborating into one simple word.

Clean.

Do I desire to allow myself time to have long healthy locks of hair rather than a tied up knot of knots? Why, of course! But it goes so much deeper than that, friend.

2016 wasn’t a bad year by any means for us. However, as I reflect back, I see areas of my life that I yearn for deep cleansing.

A year where some relationships were tested, I yearn for a heart cleansing. Friendships shift, motherhood shifts, marriage shifts. Some shifts are miracles and some are a test to the heart.

I look back and see some soiled areas of my heart that could use some cleansing from my sweet Jesus.

My home is full of kids and clutter. If you are a clutter free mom, you are my hero. Just sayin’. I yearn to move towards more of a clutter free home this year to relieve me of that daily anxiety.

I have never met a person that doesn’t battle their own mind. We could all use some cleansing in that area, amen? This year, I yearn to seek more of God’s word than Pinterest quotes to aid in the cleansing of my mind.

2016 wasn’t my healthiest year for sure. I plan to clean that up a bit. And yes, commit to wash my neglected hair more. Last year was a huge year of self-awareness and accepting that it is not selfish to take time for myself even in the most chaotic and demanding seasons of life.

I want to extend my pastor’s challenge to you. What word might you choose for this year? Might you write down and place it where you will face it daily as a reminder?

I chose CLEAN.

A year of cleansing in my heart, mind, body, home, and spirit.

Don’t rush to a word like I initially did. Ask God to show you what word your heart really yearns to live by this year and what He yearns for you the same. I have full faith in the middle of the mundane, that word will present itself and mean as much to you as mine means to me.

At the end of the day, in any year, I am nothing and can accomplish nothing without Christ. So, as I continue to remind my stubborn self of that, I pray your word does not come without the weaving of Christ in and through it. He is faithful every time.

If you feel comfortable, I would love to hear feedback on the word you choose and why. I love seeing what God can do through us individually and as a whole.

Here’s to our journey of 2017.