Sarah D. Shearer

I’m so thankful today. Thankful for my husband, my home, food in my refrigerator and a beautiful sunshine outside to enjoy.

Along with most of you, I’m processing the unfolding events in our world. All I can say is what a time to be alive. We live in interesting times and I personally believe we are in the greatest hour of human history and I’m so grateful I’m here today to see all God is doing.

I’ll forego all the stuff you’ve read by now and address one thing I’ve yet to see discussed.

Many of us started the year 2020 with High Hopes. There were many Memes and posts about 2020 being “my year.”

Maybe now, as literally everything is being canceled, you’re tempted to despair and say “This was supposed to be my year and it looks as though 2020 is canceled!”

My friends. 2020 is not canceled. This is the day the lord has made. Most of us are still in good health, and we have a unique opportunity to focus on what’s most important.

If we live our lives in a constant state of “well, this year sucked so maybe next year will be better” we will never be content or see the beauty of today.

Looking back only three years, I see a trend in my own life.

2018: did the hardest thing I had ever done: lead a mission trip that seemed to go wrong in every way possible.

2019: my work life shattered and every semblance of a normal day was destroyed. Then I planned a big wedding in five months.

And now, in 2020, I’m newly married facing all the challenges associated with living and existing with the person God lovingly gave me who is my polar opposite. We are learning how to navigate joy and loss and weekends and health and it’s a wild and wonderful ride.

And now this virus which has upended the world.

I see a trend. It’s called life. We don’t get a break from hard things. There is no break from difficulty and no promise of a pristine, untouched year.

Jesus says it best. “In this world you will have trouble, but TAKE HEART!! I have overcome the world!”

We have the marvelous gift of today. Today to forgive, to love, to pursue, to reconcile, to hold loved ones close.

Our favorite concert may be canceled and Disney World May be closed but 2020 is not canceled and more importantly, today isn’t canceled.

Make the most of the ordinary things right in front of you. One day you’ll look back and see they were truly the extraordinary things.