“Things can get
better, and if you give them a chance, they usually do.” Stephen King

 After all we have been
through in 2020, I found this statement to be appropriate. We have been
challenged to see things differently, we have been forced to stay close to
home, and we have been tested to see how much we can overcome. And after
surviving a year like 2020, it has become easy to say we cannot wait for it to
be over. But, as Mr. King states above, “things can get better.”

 As we get closer to
the new year, what are we going to do to ensure that things get better? I
believe we can start by looking back on 2020, and instead of focusing on all
the negatives that took place, we could focus on the positives that were hidden
beneath them. We can take some time to reflect, think about the gifts God gave
us, and try to incorporate some of the lessons we learned this year.

 For myself, 2020 was a
year where God taught me to slow down. Without the distractions of a busy
schedule, I was given more time to appreciate the family God has blessed me
with. I was given more time to reach out to friends and have meaningful conversations.
And I was given more time to relish the creation He surrounds me with and take
in the beauty of his scenic landscapes. Slowing down was a lesson I needed to
learn and incorporating this into the new year will be important in ensuring
that “things can get better.”

 2020 also gave me the
opportunity to learn more about people who are different than I. It taught me
to listen, do my research before I speak, and be empathetic to those less
privileged. I learned that my life is not the life that everyone experiences,
and injustices can happen in areas I never knew existed. And as I reflect on a
year where I had more time to delve into the histories, cultures, and
perseverance of others, I learned that understanding and accepting opinions
that differ from mine will be important in ensuring that “things can get
better.”

 Finally, 2020 gave me
the opportunity to become closer to God. It gave me the time to read my Bible,
pray, and experience all the small miracles He put before me. It gave me the
opportunity to share His messages with others, find a positive perspective for
what was happening in their lives, and do my part to give them hope and faith
in the path God has set before them. And if nothing else, God allowed 2020 to
strengthen my mission and ensure my light shined in a year filled with
darkness. I learned that if I let go of the reigns and allow God to use me as a
beacon for others, that “things can get better.”

 2021 is almost here.
It would be easy to throw away 2020 and wish it good riddance, but I pray you
find some time to understand the gifts it bestowed upon your life. Even in the
eye of the strongest storm, God finds ways to bless us and keep us close. And
even if you find it difficult to find the positive attributes to this challenging
year, please remember this. “Things can get better, and if you give them a
chance, they usually do!”