Bloom.

Christen’s word of the year is bloom. The first time she announced it, I was immediately jealous. I know, not very Christian of me, but hear me out. I sat down to the table with “intentional stewardship” which is a mouthful and sounds hard and she sat down to the table with a cute word that sounds fun and exciting because of its association with flowers and spring.

Immediately, I was thinking, “Man, I really should’ve picked a cute a word, a better word, a word that I was more excited about.”

And then the Holy Spirit told me, “You didn’t pick this word, I did.”

Christen’s 2025 word was steady. She had spent a year working on steady rhythms of growing her faith, of growing herself, of growing her discipline, so that in 2026 she is ready for a word like bloom. Because of her steadiness, she’s ready to spend a year focusing on blooming, showing, and taking pride in all the things that the holy spirit has been cultivating in her.

My 2025 word was create. I spent the year creating content, creating ministry materials, creating a child, creating memories with my family, creating budgets, creating routines, and creating biblical habits and rhythms in my life. But after all that creation, it’s now time for me to be a good steward and intentionally use those things in the right ways to further God’s call on my life.

We’re almost halfway through the year and I’m still thinking about my word of the year which is actually a phrase.

I’m looking outside and I’m seeing the flowers bloom and everything come to life and once again thinking about how my words seems like less of a celebration and more like management.

But as I sit here on my deck, enjoying the sunshine and the beauty and the creation that is blooming around me, I realize that for me to continue to thrive and create good works for God’s glory I have to be intentional about the stewardship of what is already in front of me.

Christen is in a year to bloom and I am in a year of cultivation.
I hope in sharing this reflection you see the irony of trying to compare myself to something that is incomparable.

God has designed no two people alike just like our plans, our calls and our joy that is found in him quite literally are all different as well. Every part of our walk-in faith is different from one another, and that is in his design - His Divine Plan.

I am so enjoying watching Christen bloom this season, and although it doesn’t sound fun, I am enjoying honing in on what good stewardship of my life looks like. Forcing myself to be more intentional with my yes’ and my no’s has helped me be a better steward of all that God has placed before me and the task management hasn’t been as exciting as watching flowers bloom, but it has been as restorative as a winter’s sleep for perennials.

We’re all in different walks in our journey. We’re all in different steps, but each place carries importance. Each call has a season and has a purpose. Try not to look at the women around you and think, “I wish I was where she is,” but instead pray on how you can be where God wants you to be, because that is where you will find true joy and true peace.

Intentional stewardship doesn’t sound fun, but the rhythms it has brought to my chaos, the consistency it has brought to my routine, and the planning that it has put in my home have allowed me to find peace, to establish moments of rest, and find joy exactly where I am.

Cheer on the people around you, but don’t let their journey distract you from your own destination.

God’s Love & Mine,
Christina