Last
January we greeted the year 2020 and thought we had a perfect vision of how the
year would go. Little did we know. The year was still a babe when everything
went askew. In February I had the type A flu even though I had gotten the flu
shot. It was the worst flu ever, says me, who holed up in the spare bedroom.
Happily, hubby didn’t take it. I know it was the flu because I was tested.
Then we heard about a new virus
called Corona, later shortened to Covid-19. By the first of March, everything
was shut-down and we were all shut-in. Easter dinner was canceled. Eggs hunts
were canceled. Thankfully, I had a project of making photo albums for all the
grandchildren. If I hadn’t had that, I probably would have been locked away and
it wouldn’t have been in my house. Hubby got out only when necessary to run
errands.
2020 has been the year I fell in
love with Walmart grocery pick-up. Why did it take so long to arrive? Never
mind, it’s here now and I’m overjoyed.
Then in April, our 11th
great-grandchild arrived, Everett Dean. We were so tickled. But a day or two
afterwards, his mother and wife of our grandson, had a stroke. The prognosis
was grim. We didn’t know if she’d even survived. After a week, the doctors said
she would live, but painted a sad picture of her being bed-fast in a nursing
home. God’s people rallied and a special time of prayer was called for her
Miraculously, after that prayer session, she began to get better, improving
rapidly. Today, she is almost as good as new and is even back to her artistic
painting. We all rejoice, praising God every step of the way for the “Miracle of
healing.”
The pandemic got a little better in
the spring and summer, especially the latter. I didn’t get to make my trip to
visit relatives, but it’s so like God to bless us even in the hard times. That
is just what He did. I went with our church youth group to a Christian
Conference Center in Green Lake, Wisconsin. The camp was closed, but they were
allowing in work teams to keep the grounds cleared. The youth worked and I
tagged along to write.
Let me explain what that trip meant
to me. The year was 1988 and I was enrolled in a writer’s conference at Green
Lake. I spent a lot of time in prayer
and meditation. It turned out to be a mountaintop experience where God placed a
call on my life to write for His kingdom. I hadn’t been back since that time,
and this gift of being able to return meant the world to me. The next good thing that happened was our three
granddaughters who live in New Mexico, Texas, and Alabama, brought their
combined nine children—our great-grandchildren and came home for a visit. That
was a super-duper nice surprise for us. While they were here, I hosted a garden
party (tea) for the women of the family as we celebrated summer birthdays and
remembered Grandma’s (my mom) summer birthday as well. How fun was that! Summer was enjoyable. I spent long afternoons
reading in the backyard surrounded by the beauty of
nature. Hubby stayed busy mowing yards and this & that.
The fall has not been quite as
pleasant as once more the Covid numbers zoomed and many of our friends were
stricken, including one of my sisters, who passed away. Again, people began to
debate about canceling holiday activities.
Then there was the angry election. I
don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget how angry and hateful people have been
and are over the election; nor the anger over whether the Cornavirus was a hoax
or not; or whether to mask-up. Friendships teetered on the brink of dissolving
and families began to bicker over this or that. So, as I walk steadily towards
a new year, I’ll gladly say goodbye to the angry part of 2020.
I wish I could say it was the year,
and that when we ring in 2021, the strife will all be over--that we will all
sing the song from Frozen, “Let it
go,”--and that hard feelings will disappear. But I’ve lived long enough to
realize, that grudges may be held and bitterness may carry over into the New
Year. How sad is that?
I ask myself, what would Jesus say
to us, and I hear Him speaking once again words from the Scriptures, “Go and sin no more,” “Do not worry,” “As
much as possible, be at peace with everyone,” “Love one another.” “God is in
control,” and I’m encouraged.
2021 may start out a little rough
around the edges, but God is in control. He’s already written the ending and
those in Christ know the outcome. May we all relax and be at peace. God’s got
this. Can I hear an Amen?
Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas
and
a New Year filled with Peace &
Love
