Welcome to 2021! I don’t know about you, but I’m glad that 2020 is now behind us. It was definitely a tough year. 

For many people, seeing the calendar change to January 1st means a chance to reset. To start over. To set new goals. To make lists of things you want to accomplish this year.
 
Back in 2015, instead of making lists and resolutions, I decided to focus on ONE WORD for the entire year.  

​On January 1, 2020 so many of us had hope, excitement, and anticipation of what the new year would bring. We made plans, set goals, and dreamed about how 2020 would be better than 2019. We said, “Happy New Year!” to each other and truly meant it.
 
And then March 11th happened.
 
The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, and 2020 suddenly looked very different than how we imagined it a few months earlier. 

​Because of a global pandemic, I have spent a lot of time at home the past 5 months. I’ve read numerous books, listened to countless podcasts, completed several puzzles, spent hours on Zoom, watched way too much Netflix, and I even took 3 months of online guitar lessons. 
 
While everyone else was ordering toilet paper and Clorox wipes online, I decided to order my first Paint By Number canvas. There are hundreds of beautiful paintings to choose from. The concept seems simple – match the numbered paints to the numbered areas on the canvas.
 
The company’s website says, “Relieve stress and reveal your creative side.” Apparently, lots of other people were also feeling the stress of the pandemic, because sales on their website drastically increased and it took over 2 months for my canvas to arrive.

In the midst of a global pandemic, I have found it hard to put into words everything I'm feeling right now. And then I heard the song "You Already Know" by JJ Heller. 

After hearing her beautiful song, these words came to my mind....

I Can Trust You With Tomorrow
 
When so much seems uncertain
And I don’t understand your ways
I trust in your unchanging word
And I fall to my knees to pray
 
I give you my worries
I give you my fears
I give you my questions
I give you my tears
 
You give me comfort
You give me peace
You give me hope
And reassure me
 
When others are distant
You remain near
When I feel weak
You’ll help me persevere
 
I can trust you with tomorrow
Because you were with me yesterday
I can trust that you’re still good
Because I feel loved by you today

​I was standing in line at Chipotle, waiting my turn to place my order. No matter what time I go, there always seems to be a line. The man in front of me had a list and was ordering meals to-go for his entire family.  When he got to the register, he looked over at me and told the cashier, “Add her meal to my bill.”
 
I immediately said, “That’s so nice of you, but you don’t have to do that.” He replied, “I want to. Sorry for the extra wait.” I was still in shock, but thanked him, and walked out the door with a smile on my face and my free Chipotle dinner in hand.
 
This complete stranger had no idea of the long day that I had, but because of his random act of kindness, I ended that day feeling joyful.