Handed Inspiration

 I did something a little different this year to find my word and saint of the year. Instead of using a generator, which was usually fun, unpredictable and exciting, upon further reflection and prayer I asked God to show me them. I was inspired by a core speaker at Blessed is She who has done it this way to find her word, saint and even verse of the year. 

I've found this way to be surprising, reflective, meaningful, purposeful and more intimately woven instead of clicking a button on a website. Sometimes that just felt more random than meaningful, but I do always enjoy trying to find the meaning each year. A few years ago, I had the word 'plucky' and though it seemed quite random, I reflected upon it more and did experience some hardships that year and had to learn to overcome them, encounter them and entrust them to the Lord.

This year, as I was listening to the advice of the speaker from Blessed is She, I reflected upon a bit and prayed for a saint for the new year...to show me a saint that maybe speaks or resonates with me, one that I know or do not know. Well, it happened to be St. John Paul II! He actually was my saint in 2021, but there were many reminders that spoke to me, he feels all around me.

 My dear sister gave me a book of his writings titled; 'God is beauty'. And my other sweet sister gifted me a booklet of his writing for Christmas. As I was reading the other night, 'God is beauty', I noticed there was another book I'm getting back into reading also about St. Pope John Paul II and Poland. Okay, I thought. Are there more signs? 

It's been near my bed for at least 6 years, a picture of him in the snow. I realized a book I took out of my bookshelf as I was organizing my many books (almost too many) the other day was a book by St. Pope John Paul II on the dignity and vocation of women, still have yet to read it.  A pouch that my mom gave me a while ago, I recently used for my rosaries. One side has St. Pope John the 23rd and the other side, you guessed it, St. Pope John Paul II! So many signs but feel he is my saint for this new year of 2026! 

As for my word, I also tried to reflect and pray, for God to show me a word. The other day in the morning, I washed my hands and upon seeing my fingernails- as I'm taking a break to paint them again, the word 'clean' came to me. This also spoke to me since I'm in the midst of a big project of cleaning my room- lots of organizing, declutter, and rearranging some things around. I'm also not naturally a clean or net person, so what a great goal and strive to live by. Also, some scripture verses to recall pertaining to clean that are good to reflect upon.

As for my verse of the year, I wasn't sure what it would be, as I feel I'm still getting more accustomed and knowledgeable to remember bible scripture. While listening to the priest's homily this morning, he talked about light and radiating Christ's light and His light guiding us. This made me think of the Psalm verse 119, 'Your word is a lamp for my feet.' That also made me think of the Bible Museum in Washington, DC that I visited with my sister's family summer of 2023, which is so meaningful and special, as it has that verse on a wall. 

So, there you have it!