2020 has been a year for the books! It definitely has had its share of struggle and hardship, but surprisingly, it’s also had its fair share of good. We finally paid off all of our consumer debt, we strengthened our relationships as a family, and we dreamed big dreams for the future of our property. Our big boys started working and met new friends. Our “baby” finally potty-trained. My faith deepened in a way I never expected. Were there hard days and stressful nights and anxious bits in between? Sure. But the good outweighed the bad and for that, I am so, so thankful.
My one little word, Gratitude, kept me afloat throughout this crazy year. I started 2020 writing those little things down each week on the blog, but stopped somewhere in the middle because they seemed a little too personal, a little too raw for public consumption. Instead, I kept those things handwritten and close to the chest, allowing myself the freedom to ponder the goodness around me without sharing with the world. Both ways are good. Both ways helped me see.
2020 held a lot of darkness. In some ways, we saw some of the worst of humanity with deeply hateful speech and actions. People in positions of leadership let us down, both in society and in the Church. More than ever, we need to seek the light. Obviously the light is Christ Himself, but I know I have a role to play here too. A few ways I’ve been brainstorming to do this:- do the hard internal work to make myself a better example of Christ
- continue to learn more about Him through the Sacraments, the Bible, prayer and religious reading
- notice the lights in my life and be grateful for them
- actively work to be what I’d like to see more of in the world: kind, generous, a listener, life-giving in word and deed (I hope to use this little blog for those means too)
Every week at Mass, we read the last Gospel (the beginning of the Gospel of John) and it’s never been more appropriate: In princípio erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat Verbum. Hoc erat in princípio apud Deum. Omnia per ipsum facta sunt: et sine ipso factum est nihil, quod factum est: in ipso vita erat, et viat erat lux hóminum: et lux in ténebris lucet, et ténebræ eam non comprehendérunt.
“And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” May we believe it to be so and may I actively try to do my part.
PREVIOUS ONE LITTLE WORD CHOICES
2013: Intention // 2014: Brave // 2015: Thrive // 2016: Learn // 2017: Slow // 2018: Roots // 2019: Notice // 2020: Gratitude
Light, what a great word