Have you ever wondered why there is an extra “r” in February?

For as long as I can remember, whenever I spell it out I have to intentionally sound it out in my head: Feb-ru-ar-y — instead of how I normally say it out loud, Feb-yoo-air-ee. It just doesn’t come naturally. The quick explanation is that the word comes from the Latin Februarius, made its way through French, and eventually into English. Somewhere along the way, our pronunciation softened to avoid having two “r’s” too close together, while the spelling stayed loyal to its Latin roots.

And now? It’s just how it is. We deal with it. This makes me wonder — maybe a silly question — do you have any extra “r’s” in your life?

Not literal letters, of course, but  things that tagged along with you somewhere along the way. Habits, patterns, or possessions that just sort of… stayed. Clothes hanging in the closet that you never wear. Routines you follow without remembering why. Grudges that have been quietly taking up space for years. Ways of thinking, reacting, or holding back that once served a purpose but may not anymore.

Extra “r’s” are often hard to identify.  They’ve simply become part of us. No thought required. No conscious decision. They just are.

Our recent move to Wisconsin has helped uncover some of my own extra “r’s.” Boxes that are literally unpacked sit in our basement!  My goal was to load up and move across the country – I did not have energy to pause,  notice each item, consider, and then decide to pack or get rid of.

February is a good month for this kind of reflection. It’s short. Quiet. Often cold and stripped down. It doesn’t shout for attention like December or promise fresh starts like January. February simply invites us to notice — to pause and ask what we’re carrying and why.

As we move through this month, perhaps it’s worth asking ourselves: What are the extra “r’s” in my life right now?   What habits, assumptions, grudges, or burdens have come along for the ride? And which of them might God be gently inviting me to loosen my grip on?  Not everything needs to be fixed or discarded. Some things are worth keeping. But paying attention is a faithful place to begin.

After all, February still works just fine — extra “r” and all. And so do we.

– Submitted by Tim Grade