Happy New Year! Here we are, facing the year 2020. It’s a new decade, an opportunity to start fresh with a clean slate. The possibilities are endless.
Or, is it just another day?
It’s up to you, really. It can be a chance to change direction by throwing off the old and starting anew, or to keep dragging the baggage of the past as an excuse to stay just as you are.
I realized as I thought about 2020 being a new decade, that I didn’t do that in 2010. It was just another year. I was still working through reverse culture shock from our recent return to the States after twenty years overseas. I was here, but didn’t want to be here, or at least wasn’t sure what I wanted. I just worked to survive each day.
Survival seemed to be a theme for that decade, as my husband passed away, my children left the nest, and I ended the ten years as a widow, living in a condo. In January 2010, I would never have thought January 2020 would be so totally different, yet, here I am.
In case you think I’m depressed with the thought, I’m not — which surprises even me as I write this. I think when I heard the word decade the other day, it was really God’s way of reminding me to dream again, and I’m going to take him up on that challenge.
You see, I’ve always been a dreamer. Every year, since I was in high school or college at least, I would reflect on the year past and make plans for the year ahead. Actually, it wasn’t plans as much as prayers. I would put my dreams out there on the page, because I always wrote them down, and write out my prayers to God for his guidance through it all.
I realized I haven’t done that in a while. It’s part of that grief fog that gets us off balance and out of sorts. But, here I am again, ready to look forward in hope and anticipation of what he has ahead for me. It’s terrifying and exciting all at the same time. It’s been a long time since I just made plans, just dreamed, for me. My husband’s gone, my boys are grown, I’ve come full circle to the single girl longing to serve God with her life.
I find comfort and hope in a book written by a pretty depressed prophet (Jeremiah), who was actually one my favorites.
Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!*
I have a clean slate for a new decade, year, day.
What about you?
God’s forgiveness and mercy make that possible, and because of that we can say Happy New Year.
Grace and Peace
*Lamentations 3:22-23 (CSB)
A powerful (and almost frightening) message of hope. Thank you, Carol.
Thank you, John…I think! Moving forward has its bittersweet moments, but he’s called us to press forward toward the goal. Blessings on all the Breland family for 2020.