Reflecting on the past year, there are many good things to keep in our hearts so that we can let go and truly welcome in a new year with hope and faith. Whether it proves to be better or worse is not for us to know. We are here now and we only have the present because God has not given us tomorrow yet. And for good reason.
Like Mother Mary who had so many things to reflect on during her young life, we must keep all these things (from the past year) in our hearts, but continue to keep our eyes on our tasks at hand and not on what could cause us grief if we decide to try and take control of it. Mary faced pregnancy (initially) without a husband, but kept the Angel's words in her heart not to fear. She faced a nice long donkey ride at the end of her pregnancy only to give birth in a barn with nothing to care for her newborn son. She pondered on and kept many things in her heart that she didn't understand including Simeon's prophecy of a sword piercing her heart (sooner or later), and finally, she had to learn how to live with her son's ministry that provoked his own people to reject him and eventually put him to death, which she witnessed first hand. But she kept her faith!
Yes, we will keep many things in our heart about 2020, both the good and the bad, the highs and the lows. And this will prepare us for what will come, both the highs and the lows, the good and the bad.
If we want to keep faith and hope alive through it all, we can remember what God told His people in the Old Testament: "Be still and let Me fight your battles for you." And 2 Chronicles 20:15 "Do not fear or loose heart.....for the battle is not yours, but God's." And we can practice remembering what Jesus told us in the New Testament "Fear not for I am always be with you".
As we step into 2021 today, we wave good-bye to the good and the bad and embrace the unknown without being afraid. God's got this. We can remember the good and bring the seeds of that with us. It was indeed a good year for the roses.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU
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