Friends
Have you selected your “one Word” for 2025? For those of you who have been following my blog for awhile, you know that I pick one word to focus on each year, one word to guide my scripture reading, spiritual reflections, and prayer life. Last year, I selected “rest” as my one word, and I found that study to be both meaningful and enlightening. To be honest, I think I have much more to learn about resting in God’s presence, so much so that this year’s “R” word is closely related. Will you stroll back in time with me this morning and see if you can guess my one word from this precious childhood memory? ?
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“Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.”
Psalm 116:7 – NIV
The hot Panama sun scorched the pavement beneath my tiny feet, but I didn’t care. I was bubbling with excitement, my blond curls bouncing as I skipped along beside my mother. It was family day on the Army post, and Mama and I were working our way through the parking lot in search of Daddy.
The soldiers had set up a carnival of sorts for their families, complete with food, drinks, and fun activities for the kids. My five-year-old self couldn’t wait to check it all out. We soon located Daddy, and the three of us strolled through the festivities, my parents chatting with their friends while I wiggled with anticipation. The crowd was packed with children I knew, their well-dressed mothers sporting 1960’s bouffant hairdos. As members of the 8th Special Forces Group, the men were all dressed in their olive-drab green fatigues, their combat boots polished to a spit-shine, green berets perched just-so on their heads.
The soldiers had set up obstacle course stations for the children to try out, and I immediately spied the set of wooden jump towers connected by a thick metal wire. In today’s terms, we would call it a zip-line, but to five-year-old Anita, it was a parachute station, and I was all about trying it.
I was proud as punch that my daddy was a paratrooper! Since coming to Panama, Mama and I had ventured out to the drop zone several times to watch Daddy and his fellow soldiers make their “jump.” It was a pretty incredible sight to watch the plane move over the drop zone, releasing a steady stream of paratroopers from its open door, their tiny figures reminding me of baby birds leaving the safety of their nest. I would join the crowd of onlookers as we held our collective breath, waiting to hear the coveted sound of “Whoosh” as each of the parachutes opened. As one after another OD-green parachute dotted the sky, the crowd heaved a sigh of relief, now content to watch the paratroopers slowly descend to the ground like wisps of cotton floating on a gentle breeze.
I had glowed with pride as I watched my daddy fly through the air, and now it was my chance to fly. I headed straight for the jump tower, fully prepared to shimmy up that ladder and take flight. Crowded at the base of the jump tower was a pack of young boys, each staring up at the tall tower with obvious uncertainty. I held my head high in a determined pose and weaved right past them to claim the first spot in line. Without a moment’s hesitation, I proceeded to scale the ladder up to the launching platform. A soldier was waiting there to strap me into the safety harness and show me how to grasp the hand rails. I can still recall the taste of panic that slid down my throat as I looked down at the ground far below, but I had come too far to quit now. Besides, all the little boys were watching me, and I was determined to show them up! With a deep breath, I swung my feet off the platform, and “Whoosh!” I was airborne!
All those years ago, I made a hard choice for a little girl. Should I cling to the comfort of the known, or take a leap of faith? Should I hang on to control, or release my grip, opening the path to new possibilities? I was ready for a new challenge, and I trusted that my strong and steady father would be waiting for me when I finally let go and took the plunge.
Torrents of joy washed over my tiny frame as I zipped through the air, flooding my spirit with a rush of excitement that I can still recall today. To my delight, my daddy was waiting for me on the other side. The sight of his wide grin was exhilarating, and the sweet sound of his merry laugh made my heart skip a beat. I had overcome my fear and stepped out in faith. The pride I saw in my father’s eyes made my thundering heart leap for joy.
Five-year-old Anita recognized that she couldn’t fly until she released her hold on that platform, but this much older Anita occasionally struggles with letting things go. I hate to admit it, but sometimes, I am a slave to fear. I truly believe that God has a good plan for my life, and He works all things together for good, but sometimes I don’t act like I believe it. I allow fear to control my thoughts, instead of releasing my concerns to the One who can set me free. I over-plan and over-analyze, instead of releasing control to the One who is really in control. I let stress and worry steal my joy, instead of releasing my burdens to the one who can give me rest.
Did you guess what word I Picked for 2025? “Release” is my one word for this year. As I continue my reflections on resting In God’s presence, I want to work harder at relinquishing control and trusting my burdens to God.
Friends, what about you? Are you weighed down by stress and worry? Are you tethered by fear and anxiety? Let’s take a note from that little girl who realized that the only way to fly was to let go. She trusted that her father would be waiting for her, and we can trust that our Heavenly Father waits for us. As we navigate this new year, may you and I learn to “let go, and let God.”
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“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:7 – NIV
PRAYER
O Good, Good Father, You wait for us, knowing the good plans You have for us, understanding our faults and frailties and loving us anyway. Teach us to trust You above all else, releasing our incessant need to control everyone and everything. Help us trust instead of fear, to rest instead of worry, to surrender instead of stress. Your grace is sufficient for us. Let us lean in and let go.
In the Trustworthy Name of Jesus, we pray,
Amen
New Year’s Blessings,
Anita
-APS 1/20/2025
Faith Beyond Sight 