Lee Strobel, Author of Case for Christ – and many other books, asked on Twitter today (December 31, 2020) the following question –
If you could wrap up 2020 with 1 word, what would it be?
I replied with this one word (my Twitter handle is @adaandmax):
Life.
In the words of Author and Public figure/Financial Peace founder, Dave Ramsey, however, his sentiments were that 2020 was a “A dumpster-fire of a year.”
But, if you really stop to think about it, so were many other years.
In 2010 – after years upon years of infertility, we lost our second pregnancy to miscarriage. We had prayed for this baby for 10 years – and God still decided to cradle our loss in his hands instead of allowing us to raise our new babe here on earth.
In 2012 – we watched our son, Maxwell, come back to life —- twice. He tried to leave earth and his family behind multiple times. But – he battled through congestive heart failure, lung failure, blood transfusions, and a coma to remain with us today. Maxwell is now 8.
Through 2012-2014 – my husband and I went through many counseling sessions for the saving grace of our marriage.
In 2018, our eldest daughter – Adelyne (known as Sweet Adelyne) – suffered some form of seizure-like episode at school. Specialists in the neuro and cardiac fields never could figure out what happened.
And, of course, 2020 radically changed our current location – we had to make a last-minute decision: Where would it be best for our family to ride out this pandemic with our high-risk son??? And the answer moved us across the world from Poland to Arizona.
Looking at the question once again, I think the word “Life” perfectly sums up 2020 …
In Ecclesiastes 3, verses 1-8 (ESV), it says:
(There is) A Time for Everything
3 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
In 2020, we have basically seen each and every one of these mentions – all around the world – for nearly the entire year – and, as the world turns, I have made it through.
You have made it through.
Some with new family members – birth.
Some with fewer – the heavy loss of death.
Some with weeping.
Others with dancing. For joy still abounds in the midst of tragedies.
A time not necessarily for embracing (mask up and social distance, people!) – yet realizing what it is we truly treasure – family.
A time of silence.
And a time to speak —-
Especially on behalf of love and peace.
And so, on the eve of this unprecedented year – I would like to offer you these words of encouragement …
Proverbs 3:5-6 says,
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he shall make your path straight …
I think I can say, on behalf of the entire world, we are ready for 2021.
We are ready for life to change.
For joy to increase.
For health to abound.
For healing to take place.
For our paths to go from flipped, turned, twisted, and tossed to be set straight.
And may we do that with trust in the Lord.
Amen.
And 2 Makes Crazy 