2020 is drawing to a close. As we look back, we may be quick to say, "it was the worst year ever." You could point to Covid, to statistics, to elections, to political unrest. But what if you looked back on the little moments, on the little blessings that ammount to great heights?
Think back to previous years you thought were "the worst." Do you think they're so bad now? If no, why? Is it because this year was much worse? What if you considered 2021 to be even worse? That's a terrible way to look at your life. To think that "this" year was worse than "last" year every year. That would imply that each year grows in severity.
But what if the year really wasn't as bad as you believed? What if it's just because that's how it felt in that minute minute (my-noot min-et), that one day, one week, or one month? And if you think it was all twelve months, then you're looking at the big picture, and not the small scenes. You're focusing on the disasters and not the fact that you picked yourself up and moved on. If you didn't, you wouldn't be here reading this.
What if you zoomed in and looked at why you kept going? What will you see? It will be different for everyone. Perhaps you felt love. Whether it be from a spouse, a child, a parent, a sibling, a cousin, an aunt, an uncle, a neighbor, a co-worker, a boss, someone at the store, the doctor, or even an animal, such as a dog, cat, fish, horse, goat, or chicken. Doesn't matter where it came from or what type, you probably experienced love.
Did you give love? Maybe to a spouse, a child, a neighbor, an animal. The list is the same as above, but I'm not going to make you read it again. You can even add to it. Did you meet someone new? Giving love is just as great as receiving it.
Did you read a book? Watch a movie that touched your heart? Listened to a song that made you dance? Hear a joke that made you laugh? Did you smile one time?
Did you eat some bad food that helped you appreciate good food? Did you learn something? Did you grow in your faith, whatever faith that may be?
There are a million little things that greatly outweigh the few big things. Before you're quick to dismiss 2020 as "the worst year ever," think for a moment about your personal 2020. Most of what we see as bad was really what happened on a big scale. Some of what happened to others may not have even touched you.
Now, I'm not living in my own, imaginative, perfect world. I know that there are hundreds of thousands of people who lost a loved one or more. They lost their jobs. They lost their business. They lost something important and valuable. But they didn't give up either. They didn't just lay down and say, "I can never experience good again." That's not how we work. That's not how God wired us.
Take the time, as you look back on the year, to realize, before the year is over, that perhaps the whole year wasn't as terrible as the world would have you believe.
I'm praying for those who have lost someone or something. I know that others will join me. We don't know you, we don't know each other, but we are all loved by God. We are His children, and that's enough. I have been through darkness, times when I asked God "why?" That wasn't me this year, but it doesn't matter the year. God is always faithful, even if it's in ways we didn't expect. I just want everyone who is reading this to know, you're not one among millions, an insignificant one. To God, you are one among ones. Everything about you is important to Him.
This is my last post on this blog. It has been an amazing 6 years. Thank you for reading this blog. I love and continue to pray for you all.
-Elizabeth :)
Jesus loves you! <3