Thursday
Today is the last day of 2020. A new year lies ahead. A clean slate. Bright with possibilities and potential. That’s usually the enthusiastic attitude with which I approach the next 365 days.
But, after 2020, instead of dancing excitedly into the next year, leaping and jumping and clapping, I’m going in quietly, slowly, on tippy toes, sort of walking on egg shells. Only the Lord knows what will transpire in the year ahead. So it brings me to my advice for 2021.
- Lower expectations! We don’t know what 2021 will bring. It’s best to lower your expectations and hope for the best. We’ve seen the worst this year. The same horrible circumstances may repeat themselves.
- Take one day at a time! Today is the day we have been given. Tomorrow is not assured. Enjoy the present.
- Take it slow and get enough rest. With there being 83 steps to our front door, I’ve found that the absolute best way to go up is slowly! If I rest along the way, I get to the top without puffing and panting. Regularly offer yourself the opportunity to rest and recover from life’s pace.
- Enjoy the little things in life. You don’t need a lot of money to enjoy life. It’s the little things that make me happy. Walking on the cat walk is one of them…
And the birds are another…
- Focus on the people in your life. I have found that it’s not necessarily the house I live in that makes me happy – it’s the people I live with who truly bring me fulfilment. Mike and I were talking about the worst place we ever stayed. It was a little wooden shack at a resort a few hours drive out of Cape Town. We were on our way home from a road trip and had a night to spare so we stopped in and they had this place. It was dreadful, mainly because it was not too clean. The bed linen was grimy. Mike and I gingerly climbed into a pretty small bed. He had a movie on his cell phone and despite this being a bit of a hovel, I’ll never forget snuggling up next to him and watching a movie until I fell asleep. You can live in a palace and be desperately miserable or you can live in a cottage with people you love and who love you and be sublimely happy. In 2021, focus on the people.
- Trust God in 2021. We are only passing through this life. One day we leave it all behind. Trust God for all your life, each day, each aspect, for your health, for your wealth, for your people. He knows it all and He has a plan.
And that’s my advice for 2021. I’m sure there are many other things that I will attempt in the year to come, but these are the main ones.
A year ago at midnight, I stood quietly at the window of the cabin of a river boat gliding gently down the Nile. A party was throbbing on the top deck and soon there was a countdown. Happy New Year!!!! The century’s teens were over. 2020 had arrived. I wondered what the year would bring. Now I know! Tonight I will stand on our balcony and I will be more intentional about completely committing the coming year to the Lord. He goes before us and there are no surprises with Him.
A verse for 2021:
2 Chronicles 20:21
Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever.
The best is yet to come.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂