Shed

*Disclaimer* This post is more raw than any other post I have put on here thus far. I view my Blog as my journal and have shied away from putting too much of myself on here. I have decided that 2007 will be my year to stop shying away from things as you will understand when reading the rest of this post. My prayer is that while I am trying to succeed at shedding some of my insecurities that God will somehow use this to touch *your* (your being anybody reading this blog) life. With that being said ENJOY!


So, I subscribe to an Ezine (an email magazine) put out by one of my favorite scrapbookers, Ali Edwards. In the latest issue she had an interesting challenge and I thought I would try it out this year.
This is part of what she had to say:

"Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2007?

It can be something tangible or intangible. It could be a thought or a feeling or an emotion. It can be singular or plural. The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you. This is not your mother's word or your spouse's word or your child's word - this is YOUR word.

One little word can have big meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities. And here's one thing that is totally interesting: sometimes a word will pop into your brain and it will not make any sense to you right now. Give it some time. Let it percolate a bit. I have often found that our hearts speak to us in very unique ways. Maybe this is a word you need to hear but just aren't ready for it yet. Again, be open to the possibilities."

So, I have been thinking on this word. Trying to figure out what I want this word to be. I've thought through several of them, playfullness, happy, content....all very good words, but they don't necessarily fit what my goals are for 2007. So, after much contemplation my word is: SHED. And not like the building.
I looked up Shed at Dictionary.com and here are a few of the definitions:

1.	to pour forth (water or other liquid), as a fountain.

2.	to emit and let fall, as tears.

3.	to impart or release; give or send forth (light, sound, fragrance, influence, etc.).

4.	to resist being penetrated or affected by: cloth that sheds water.

5.	to cast off or let fall (leaves, hair, feathers, skin, shell, etc.) by natural process.

6.	Textiles. to separate (the warp) in forming a shed.

–verb (used without object)

7.	to fall off, as leaves.

8.	to drop out, as hair, seed, grain, etc.

9.	to cast off hair, feathers, skin, or other covering or parts by natural process.

I really like numbers 2 and 3. To emit and let fall as tears. Meaning to me that it comes out sometimes without expectation. Sometimes it is a lot of work. Sometimes it just hurts so bad that you have to let it fall off, to emit it from your life. I also like the send forth as light....it reaches out and touches everywhere it can reach.
I think that God really knows my heart as I have been praying asking him what word would best define my goals for 2007. To send forth as light. To not keep things to myself. To share his glory!
There are other reasons for the word shed as well. I'd like to shed a few pounds (wouldn't we all at some time or other). I would like to shed the clutter in our home. I would like to shed the debt that we have, while not much I would still like to get rid of it. And I would like to shed my insecurities, to bask in the understanding that God made me in His glory and that he loves me just the way I am.