Does the year 2020 deserve to be on Santa’s naughty list?
Hmmm.
I mean. It has in many ways acted comparably to an intrusive, all up in your business, disgruntled, rude, inconsiderate, uppity, no regard for personal space, grumpy, always got a problem, neighbor. So, I’d say yes. It was good vibes initially, and then a year that started off relatively sane, switched up like the Canadian weather, evidently eager to compete in a one-man race for the championship belt in the “who can grinch best” contest.
It goes without saying. It has been a hard year. That said, the timeline to heal is yours to determine. Do not let the reels as you scroll distract you. Resist the urge to give into the pressure to perform. Do not allow the highlights of the lives of others belittle your efforts. If all you learned to do in this season is practice stillness, and controlled breathing that is worth celebrating. This, and whatever other little steps you have taken that you might be tempted to disregard as nothing. Unplug if you must.
I do not know the gravity of your loss, or the battles you have fought. I do not know where you ache or how much you are hurting. I do not know the rate at which your emotional bank is depleting, or if you even still have any fight left in you. If I had a superpower, it would be to have the capacity to bear hug everyone, young and old, all at once.
Can I leave you with this hopefully comforting truth? You are not abandoned. God, the Father is with you. I know this because he is Emmanuel. Also, I AM. He is what you need Him to be for you right now, encourager, healer, comforter, provider, protector, peace giver, joy filler, strength supplier, Father, friend, the lover of your soul and much more. Jesus in plain talk said to His disciples, I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart because I have overcome the world |John 16:33|. Who knew that peace would be such hot commodity eh?
If this year has revealed anything to me, it is my ever-growing need for Jesus. There is literally no cap for me. I also cannot afford to shelve him for convenience sake. Which leads me to Christmas, and this often used, some might even say corny church statement, Jesus is the reason for the season. Well, it’s all truth. He is the reason for this season, and is present in every season.
Can I encourage you to put the spotlight on Jesus this season? To embrace His peace, and let Him heal the broken parts of you? To allow His love overwhelm you, while you celebrate your wins, both big and small? To look ahead to 2021 with hope, fully aware that He has personally gone ahead of you, and is faithful to surround you with rest.
So yes, 2020 has racked up enough to warrant life in prison, with no chance of parole. Yet, with all that we have left, we praise God for seeing us through it all!
Merry Christmas to you and yours!!!
Xo, Mel.
WateredSeed 