I’ve been keeping a bottle of sparkling grape juice and a container of whipped cream in my fridge just in case a celebration is needed. When I awoke on January 1, 2021, I knew both would be called into action.
The television morning shows were quick to forget the events of this past year and pretend they never happened. I started feeling bad for 2020. What if good things really occurred but we forgot to celebrate them?
This past year, we experienced sadness, confusion, poor health, isolation, and other disappointments; too many to list. We spent plenty of time lamenting over our struggles and challenges. Sure, hardship tests us, but it also shapes us and makes us grow. Remembering this, I wanted to give 2020 the respect it deserved.
I realized there were actually things to celebrate even if I’d forgotten them. I asked God to help me remember, especially the little things. Why? So I could focus on His faithfulness. It didn’t take long to see the biggest reason to celebrate 2020 comes from something Jesus said, “…and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
What a great reminder, throughout all of 2020, Jesus was there, traveling with me, regardless the direction circumstances of the year took me. What a reason to celebrate!
Now what? I’m off to make a cup of hot cocoa with a huge dollop of whipped cream on top.
“For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
This is the second piece I’ve read that points out that there were good things in 2020. I’ve been so weary of reading about how terrible 2020 was and while it was a difficult year and painful for so many, it like every year had some wonderful moments that we seem ready to wash our hands of and forget. My mother always has said you don’t have to go far to count your blessings. How true that statement is. We forget to count so many blessings that are right in front of us and that means we forget to thank God for those blessings. Well, I am thankful for all the special moments in 2020, thankful he brought us through the difficult ones and thankful he hears us and walks with us and will continue to do so. 2021 may or may not be better than 2020, but there will be lovely things to count as blessings, even among the hard things. Thank you for reminding us Susan!
Thank you, Susan. How refreshing your post was to read this Morning! Beautiful verses to hold on to in 2021…. and always.
Susan, this message lead me on a mission to sit down and really give thought to the good things that happened in 2020. I decided to start by checking the chronological order of photos in my phone and I realized that I had completely erased January and February before the Covid shutdown. There were some fun and sweet moments in those two months. Next I googled the word “happy” in my email and discovered dozens of joyful exchanges with family, friends and colleagues. This was a stressful year but I agree that God was always there and He sent many good and memorable moments in 2020!