2020: What I Lost

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails (Prov 19:21).

In last week’s blog post, I wrote about the things I gained and the things that worked for me in 2020. This week, I’m looking at what I lost or what didn’t work. When I know what didn’t work, I can take steps to make changes.

Honestly, 2020 was full of losses—for some more than others. It would be easy to focus on all the bad things, especially since 2021 seems as if it’s just a continuation of the craziness of last year.

But my purpose is not to wallow in negativity. Instead, I want to acknowledge what was lost  so that I can grieve it and move on (because you can’t grieve what you don’t recognize). After that,  I can make changes to the things I can control and move on. Continue reading “2020: What I Lost”

Saying Goodbye to 2020

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19).

Finally! We made it to 2021. Most of us can’t leave 2020 and all its discord and chaos behind fast enough. With a new year, we have a clean slate with new goals and resolutions.

But before I move on from 2020, I’d like to look back. Last year, I started a practice where I find three words to describe the previous year. Now, I’m sure you have some choice words for 2020, as we all do, but my words aren’t bye bye bye, even though that would be fitting. Instead, I want to focus on the positive. The truth is, for most of us, 2020 held both good and bad. Continue reading “Saying Goodbye to 2020”

Top 10 Posts in 2020

As 2020 comes to an end (finally!), I wanted to share my top ten blog posts for the year. COVID-19 was, of course, a major theme running throughout my blog posts this year. On the whole, I looked for positive things to share in my posts. The following posts have resonated most strongly with you, my readers, over the last eleven months: Continue reading “Top 10 Posts in 2020”

Embracing the Lessons of 2020

Road trip! This photo was taken in January 2020 before one of the last trips to my mom’s orthopedist.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Ps 18:2)

This last year has been quite a roller coaster ride. Last month marked one year since my mom fell and broke her kneecap. When the orthopedist told us an injury like hers could take up to six months to get better and a year to heal completely, I thought, That surely isn’t right. Continue reading “Embracing the Lessons of 2020”

2020: The Year of Chaos

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity (Col. 3:14).

As 2020 approached, I was filled with hope and anticipation for what the new decade would bring. I read articles about twenty-twenty vision, clarity, and goal setting. I sought advice for how to make 2020 the best decade ever. I brainstormed about long-term goals to determine where I saw myself and my business now and in another ten years. The future was bright and promising.

Now, we are halfway through 2020, and most would agree that that the problems we’re facing are unprecedented. From the COVID-19 to quarantine to the senseless death of George Floyd to rioting and looting, we’ve faced tremendous upheaval. My heart breaks for Floyd’s family, for those who face racial injustice on a daily basis, for the families of those who’ve died from COVID-19, and for those who’ve lost their businesses due to the virus or the rioting or both. Continue reading “2020: The Year of Chaos”