As I reviewed my Christmas letter from last year, I had ended it with the sentiment of hoping 2020 would be more positive.  We, like some of you, suffered family and personal health issues as well as a loss of a loved one in 2019.  Surely 2020 would bring brighter days! 

As Dr. Phil is famous for saying, “How’s that working out for you?”

It didn’t work our quite like we had hoped or planned.  None of us could have predicted what this year had in store for us. At the beginning of the year, we were innocent to what the future would bring, but it reared its ugly head anyway and came on with a vengeance.

We are getting ready to start a new year in six days.  What does this new year have in store?  Once again, the future remains a mystery and we have no control over it.  We can hope and pray for the best and deal with what it delivers just as we have this year.

What we do have control over however is how we choose to remember this year.  Will any of us remember the happy moments that occurred or will the reminiscing be only about Covid, isolation, natural disasters, death and riots?  I hope we can find some joy in this past year that will outshine the devastation and will stay with us as we move forward. 

Celebrating the birth of Jesus these past few days was something I looked forward to this year as I do every year.  It gave me hope for the future as it always does.  Even without being able to spend time with my family, I focused on the greatest gift I had ever received in my life…Jesus our Savior whom arrived in the form of a baby. This is what keeps me coming back for more!

My prayer for this coming year is the good that did occur this year will not be lost in our memory of 2020.  I am cautiously optimistic 2021 will be better.  What we do know is God loves us unconditionally and is with us in whatever occurs in our lives. That is a promise we can all count on.  Happy New Year!

Patty