Take a trip with me back to January. Back when the Christmas decorations had finally been tucked away and you began filling in a brand-new calendar with your hopes and dreams for the year.
At the beginning of 2020, everything was all about focus. For many, it was their one word for the year. We had no idea that the world as we knew it was about to change. But change it did.
By March, daily trips to the store for this or that had been replaced by the occasional stock-up run to replenish the pantry and freezer. Families settled down to home-cooked meals instead of hitting the drive-thru or going out to eat. Face to face connections happened via a computer screen and kitchens became home offices.
There
was no rushing from school to sports or other activities. Churches were closed.
People learned to cook, make sourdough bread and sew masks. Chores that had
been a source of procrastination were finally completed as we wondered when
or if life would get back to normal.
We
started to look at life differently. And we realized that it might be time to refocus.
To shift our attention from what we thought was important to what truly
mattered. Faith, family, friends… Toilet paper!
Today,
let’s chat about how 2020 has impacted you. Has it caused you to refocus? Are
there things you’ll never take for granted again? Things you’ve learned you can
live without? What has 2020 taught you?
And
just for kicks, let’s do a giveaway. Leave a comment for a chance to win this
fun Christmas ornament depicting some of the little things we all remember about 2020.
Where to even start? My word for the year, that I chose in November or December, was CONNECTION. I had no idea that in January my mother would be diagnosed with cancer, by May would be in hospice care, and would pass away in August. In looking back on that time already, my family has decided that this was the best worst year ever. The timing of her illness with the lack of other social events and having schools closed meant that my children and I had a lot of time to spend with her and each other. I spent more time with my sister and my nieces than I have in their entire lives since they came to stay for several months from out of town. This was the best year and the worst year. I had no idea how much CONNECTION would need to be intentional for all of us when I chose that word. But God did and I'm grateful.
ReplyDeleteGlynis, I love that "best worst year ever." So many strangely unexpected good things have come from all this. So glad you had that time with your mom.
DeleteGlynis, I'm so sorry for your loss, but I love the way the Lord was able to use two bad situations--your mother's illness and COVID--to bring your family together. That connection with your sister and nieces must have been so special. Good from bad, right? Beauty from ashes. Like you said, the best worst year ever. Sending hugs your way.
DeleteBless you, Glynis! I know you treasure that special time your had with your dear mother and your family. The best worst year, for sure!
DeleteThanks, ladies!
DeleteI could use a do over. My mom had a stroke and heart issues and is under hospice care and I’m her full time caregiver now. Selling her home and a lot of belongings was hard on her and she is a social butterfly and doesn’t like that I live rural but my siblings didn’t want the responsibility. My heat pump failed and my refrigerator and it took from July to now to get them fixed. Need I go on....hahahahaha. God is still in control. Thank you for sharing. Blessings
ReplyDeleteOh Lucy my heart goes out to you, all that PLUS all the crapola COVID brings even to our everyday living. You deserve a good 2021 and hope you get one.
DeleteWhen it rains it pours, right, Lucy? I'm sorry you've had such a difficult year--within a difficult year, no less. But yes, God is still in control. Sometimes we have to cling to that like a lifeline and trust that He never fails. Hang in there, Lucy. Enveloping you in hugs and lifting you up in prayer.
DeleteYou're a faithful daughter, and your mother is blessed to have you! :)
DeleteI'm praying for you, Lucy. That's a LOT of things happening all at once. God is good and faithful. Hugs.
DeleteI'm so sorry, Lucy. I sincerely hope the new year is better for you
DeleteOh, Mindy, Mindy, Mindy. Words for my heart. This year has been like one of those plastic kaleidoscopes we had as kids, shake it and all the pieces come back in a different design. JUST WHEN I THOUGHT...We were doing okay even for 2020 until Dave broke his shoulder. That changed everything and we have had to pivot. Didn't get COVID, didn't lose our jobs, didn't have to Homeschool A Child, weren't in a hurricane or a California wildfire, thought we'd get through the year relatively unscathed and now this. You Just Never Know. We are refocusing, lining up help for the fall chores because he won't be healed till November at least. He was going to retire anyway this fall, so we've got to accelerate that and get all the benefits lined up. We met with a Medicare guy yesterday who looked like Kevin Costner and kept scratching himself. I will be glad when this is over. I also have to figure out a new writing schedule with Dave around full-time. Fortunately he's my biggest cheerleader, so we'll work something out.
ReplyDeleteBut life is all about refocusing and if it wasn't this it would be something else. It's just an awful lot of "This" for one year.
Working from home today, may be back later.
Kathy Bailey
Your Kaybee forever
Kathy, I feel for both you and Dave. I haven't broken a shoulder, but I've had rotator cuff surgery and I believe it was the most painful thing I've ever experienced. And my husband is retired, so he's always around. Sweet Kathy, you know what God's presented you with, right? An opportunity to trust. You can either try to do things your way or cling to Him as you walk through unfamiliar territory. Experience has taught me that the latter is easier. Oh, it may no seem easy, letting go of what we know never is, however, we don't see the big picture. If we can just let go of "self" and allow Him lead us, things may not be easier, but it saves a lot of wear and tear on our hearts and minds. Simple faith isn't necessarily simple. But it's what we're called to. You've got this, my friend. Keeping you and Dave in my prayers. Hugs.
DeleteMindy, you are so wise. Or maybe it's Christ's wisdom working through you, Whatever it is, I'll take it.
DeleteLOL! Trust me, Kathy, I'm just the vessel. ;)
DeleteMy favorite little prayer dovetails with Mindy's words of wisdom:
DeleteJesus, I trust in you!
Kathy, prayers to you! Life is sometimes full of change and adjustments. Blessings as you work it all out.
DeleteI'm sorry you are going through all this right now with Dave. God is surely giving you the opportunity to trust Him. Prayers for you both.
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ReplyDeleteThis year, I've learned to value time with family. Our time together has been so limited that I've really missed carefree get togethers. I now cherish each moment we can all get together, even if it has to be outdoors or with masks.
ReplyDeleteMissy, this year has made many of us appreciate family more.
DeleteMy WORD in January was "Stay strong!" I questioned it at the time. By late FEB, I realized what God was trying to tell me.
ReplyDeleteMindy talked about trusting the Lord, which I ditto. Fear is not from God--something I have to frequently remind myself.
Debby, everything you said here works together. When we trust God, fear hides so we can be strong. ;)
DeleteWhat a great reminder, Mindy. By this time of year I usually need to refocus, but this year it seems like my focus was swept away in March.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't had the earth-shaking happenings some families have, but the steady grinding of this year's cultural climate has worn me down. Every little change bothers me more than it should! But I'm constantly reminded of my Word and Verse for the year.
My "One Word" is Pursue Peace, and the verse is, "For whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it." 1 Peter 3:10-11 ESV
I didn't know in January how necessary that reminder to pursue peace would be as the year goes on!
Jan, pursuing peace hasn't always been easy this year. But God is always waiting to give it to us, if we'd only ask and believe, right? And you know Pursue Peace is two words, right? ;)
DeleteLOL! Yes, I often choose two words for my "One Word!" :-)
DeleteThis is kind of a weird one. I learned that my introverted self really needed to learn to slow down and focus on staying home, enjoying family and getting back into home cooking. In some strange way, this shutdown has been a blessing for me. I need to honor my introvert tendencies and not exhaust myself spending so much energy fighting them!
ReplyDeleteAnd I also have learned to appreciate small businesses. So many of our regular haunts were struggling financially, so many new businesses had the misfortune of choosing early 2020 to open their doors. As things are loosening up a bit, my family and I are making a concerted effort to "shop small."
But through it all, I've been able to rest in the fact that this virus did not catch God by surprise. I've always been a glass-half-full kind of gal and it has served me well in 2020!
Denise, that glass-half-full mentality is always a good thing. I think, once we step away from the big picture of this year, it's easier to see the blessings. Yes, it's been challenging, even difficult, but there's always good to be found if we just look for it.
DeleteI've learned that I can handle my four littles all day long while hubby works! LOL I've learned that social distancing is a lot like camping. I've learned that my bank account appreciates me more while social distancing. :) But really, thanks Mindy for this post! I've been thinking about my writing career and where I need to focus my work so this is a timely post. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteOkay, Lee-Ann, I'm giving you a standing ovation for corralling those four little ones all day. That is NOT an easy job.
DeleteI think we all can use this post, Mindy. Thanks! What a crazy year we've had! Everyone's had to adapt and do things differently. Our family's doing okay, but it's hard not being able to see and hug everyone. Hopefully, things will settle down more in a few months, but I guess we just need to keep on keeping on, huh?
ReplyDeleteLove the cute Christmas ornament! It really depicts our year. Of course, there could be some fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc. in the background. LOL
Winnie, there's only so much room on an ornament. LOL! I saw this a month or so ago and told hubby I'd found our ornament for the year. I will never ever take toilet paper for granted again!
DeleteLOL Love the Christmas ornament. Perfect!
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Mary. ;)
DeleteGreat post, Mindy. It has been a strange year indeed. I did not get the writing done that I should have during the time I was home, but I caught up on a lot of other things around the house. I usually prefer to stay at home anyway, so that didn't bother me that much. Because I have asthma, I didn't go much of anyplace in the beginning. My husband did the grocery shopping, trying to limit it to once a week. And we followed our governor's suggestion for takeout Tuesday, to give business to local restaurants that were doing carryout service. Now I'm back to work again and feeling busy, except that I'm not going to places or events. I missed spending time with family but my family started getting together on Zoom and we now have a family book group that meets every other month.
ReplyDeleteThe ornament is cute. I was looking for some like that online. I always get an ornament that represents our year, so this is the type it has to be. But my 25-year-old son made a face when I showed it to him and said he doesn't want to remember the year for that. But I haven't done anything else to represent my year. He can just get something else for his own tree!
Sandy, that family book group sounds like a great idea. And yes, Zoom has really come into its own this year. As for the ornament, like you, I try to get something that reflects the year. If we travel, I usually try to pick one up along the way, but I just thought this one was too perfect. And honestly, I didn't notice the hand sanitizer at first because I was focused on the toilet paper. I think I was more worried about running out of TP this year than I was of catching COVID. Go figure.
DeleteWhat a great post! I've learned grace through the pandemic. With the slower pace of life, I let myself relax more and gave myself grace about not getting my "to do" list done. I also gave myself grace with work and not always being able to concentrate 100% and having to work a 9 or 10 hour day just to get my 8 hours done.
ReplyDeleteEllie, I love that! We could all use a little more grace.
Delete