I had several words in mind for my February word of the month.  They all centered around radical change, parting ways, and taking bold courses of action.  My initial pause was that my word might not hit right in February because of Valentine’s Day, especially for those mourning the loss of a romantic relationship.  Then, an early February email about a “fork in the road” was a cruel gut punch for too many.  Even taking hearts and cupids out of the picture, any of the words I was pondering would not have been appropriate for February.  So, I skipped my word of the month altogether.

While I eventually settled on a word, it will remain private.  Using my February word for March would not soften the sting for some.  The timing still would have been off.  As the saying goes, timing is everything, and that is why I chose timing as my March word of the month.  Besides, March was a new month and needed its own word.

Now that you know how I arrived at my word of the month, here are some reflections on timing:

• Knowing the timing is right to say yes, even when the bold change makes you nervous. 
• Being assured of the timing to say no is the right choice, even if others get mad or disappointed.
• Taking comfort that timing may be entirely out of our hands, but that “there is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.”  Eccl. 3:1.