The Giving of Thanks in a World Gone Mad
/Wow, I can’t believe it’s been since May since I wrote anything here. And it’s not like I haven’t anything to say… If 2020 has been anything, it’s been the year of opinions and like everyone else, I have a few. It’s also been the year of really amazing blessings tucked in between the seemingly never ending year of crap slinging.
The question of the moment is, which are you willing to give the most attention to? Which will consume your emotional energy? What side of the coin, or which half of the glass are you focused in on? Because, if you want to give your waking breaths to the opinions, mudslinging, fear, anger, and blame, you’re bound to hit the pillow at night, clutching your chest, completely out of breath, and I’m just not up for it. Our life renders me wearied and breathless at the end of the day enough to allow external events that kind of power over my day to day. I gave in to the mayhem early on in the year with the virus, and again with the racial divide, and again at the election, and got highly emotional over these topics along with all the side arguments that come with each, until Scott and I decided, for our home: “ENOUGH”. I’m rolling into the end of this year holding on to what matters, and letting go of the rest.
And yes, this was a year of big, important things that do matter, but nothing I can affect by holding on tightly to negativity, refusing to show hope and love, and keeping myself awake with worry. I’m just not here for it. What I am here for, though, is giving praise where praise is due; giving thanks for gifts, blessings and friendship; for holding on to hope when it feels hopeless; for laughing, a lot; for praying in confidence that the same God who heard the cries of His people in the beginning, who has heard my cries for the last decade, still hears our cries, and He still answers; for love- the real kind, that steps out of my comfort zone; for stepping into the space where God is leading; and for peace, faith, and joy…I’m here for it. All in.
So, back to the question: in this season of thanksgiving, quickly approaching the final decade of a trying year (funny, not funny!), where is your focus? How do we give thanks in a world gone mad? By learning to look at the highs with clarity and allow the lows to dim in comparison.
2020 was the year that:
I learned God’s timing is perfect because, while I miss Gram so very much, I am so thankful she wasn’t year for this year of isolation and fear.
My three oldest sons were baptized into the body of believers.
My husband retired from teaching and was invited to pastor at Round Top, after first receiving the call eight years ago.
We kicked off our sixth year of Akin Academy.
My second book was published, Wide Awake, Why can’t I sleep? fulfilling a lifetime dream of writing a children’s book.
We stayed close to home and made wonderful memories while the world was shutdown.
I said ‘yes’ to whatever God set before me, and bid farewell to fear.
This was an amazing year for us, and I know we’re not the only ones. Maybe you need some time to refocus your lens. Maybe you need a physical list of the good, no matter how seemingly small the events. Maybe you really did have an incredibly hard year and are struggling to find the good. Maybe, if you are able to step back and look through a wider, softer lens you can see the silver linings.
Either way, if 2020 rocked you to your core, or didn’t really change much for you, I hope you are able to loosen your grip on the madness, letting it float away like a giant balloon, and choose instead to hold on to those closest to you, and find the good..
In thanksgiving and gladness,
Jules
Holding on to love.