When I was growing up and my room was a huge mess, my mom would always try and guilt me into cleaning it by saying “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.”
I think of that every time I clean house and I laugh. I tried it once with my little man and I’m pretty sure he rolled his eyes. I have a feeling I rolled my eyes more than once when Mom said that to me too. I also remember “cleaning” my room, announcing to mom that it was clean, and her coming in and taking everything I shoved under the bed into the middle of the room and saying “TRY AGAIN!”
Organization just isn’t my strong suit. It’s just never been a priority. I’m not saying that I live in a giant mess, it’s just always been a little known fact that my house is clean just don’t open a drawer or closet door!
So this year when it came time to pick My One Word, “Organize” came to mind, but I quickly pushed it aside. It didn’t seem like it was a grand enough word, cause I mean really, everyone thinks about organization and getting your life in order when the new year rolls around. I thought about it a couple of weeks and decided that I wasn’t going to use just a word, I was going to use this bible verse:
Philippians 4:8 ”Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Here’s the problem with that, “I” decided it. I declared it and thought since it was a bible verse it was awesome, right?! Look how beautiful that verse is!
I sat down in my prayer time, to meditate and pray with my verse, and it just wasn’t right. I seriously got a little ill. After a little arguing with God, He reminded me that “I” might have picked that verse, but He has something else in mind for my 2011. Over and over, “Organize” has come up. So “Organize” it is, and it feels good. (Peace, no sick stomach!)
I plan on spending the next year Organizing my Body with fitness and diet. Organizing my Home by sticking to my cleaning schedule, meal plans, and de-cluttering all those corners. Organizing my work day with better time management. Organizing my thoughts by spending more time in the Word and prayer.

I ran across a great resource if you are considering a Word for the year. It’s www.myoneword.org. Lots of inspiration on the site as well as helpful advice on picking a word and also ways to foster that word throughout the year.
Here’s to 2011! What kind of person to you want to be at the end of 2011? I would love to hear your word if you choose one.
“Organize” is a beautiful word. It’s not the word of my year…I’m pretty sure it’s the word of my life. I’m just saying, if you need some help with it…I know a girl. You are a photographer. I am an organizer.
I love you Heidi! But you don’t even know what you just got yourself into! LOL!