Word of the Year 2026 Rejoice

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice."

Phillipians 4:4

As 2026 quickly  approaches, and the Couture clan chooses to remain cuddled together closely against the winter's cold, I contemplate the joyful mystery of the "Visitation."

"For behold, as the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy."

• Luke 1:44

Two women of different ages connected by bloodline as well as the same faith, this matron and this maiden both  "full of the Holy Spiri" rejoice in the female super-power of partnering with the Creator by bearing life. I, holding my fourth blessing of a beautiful daughter this Christmas-tide, in the moments of chaos and calm sing with the angels "rejoice, rejoice, Emmual has come to thee oh Israel."

The word "Rejoice" dissected linguistically: re" prefix meaning "again"and "joice" originated in Latin/ Old French meaning "joy or happiness." So to "rejoice" means to "find joy again".  In my own personal season of watching my fourth and God-willing final child grow from newborn to toddler, and her three older siblings adapt to her rapid acceleration from crawling to walking,   I seek to rejoice:

Receving

Each

Jubilant

Occasion

Inviting

Child-like

Expectation

Broken down on a pyschological level- I seek to slow down and savor with child-like delight and thus be able to name and praise the daily blessings. To find joy again in my second born daughter, whose older sister's  word "joy-finder" contributes to a rejocing mentality- finding joy again in the process of raising littles.

A refrain to rejoice when noise mute my happiness:

I rejoice when my baby cries

for her lungs and personality grows

I rejoice when my breast feel sore

for with them I nurture my daughter

I rejoice when my two year old whines

for she feels comfortable expressing her big emotions

I rejoice when my four year old fights

for he is developing a need to protect and defend

I rejoice when my six year old argues

for he shows a great aptitude for reasoning and leadership

I rejoice when then laundry piles up

for so many lovely limbs to clothe

I rejoice when sweeping the floor and wiping sticky surfaces

for messy hands and feet made meaningful memories imprinting on our home

I rejoice when wiping stinky bottoms

for such results means they are well feed

I rejoice when bone-weary exhausted

for I completed meaningful work full of purpose.

So in every season of your life- may you too find joy again with child-like wonder! Rejoice!