“Oh, What a Year! “

December 31st is a special date, where people get so impatient to count off the seconds of last year’s momentum. In order, to welcome a new beginning, a new month, and a new YEAR. Looking back on December 31st, 2019 at 11h55pm, minutes before midnight revealed itself, my heart was palpitating and overwhelmed at the fact that we were entering a new era. An Era, where people proclaimed a 2020 vision of hope, aspiration, and prosperity. I remember a couple of days before the big turn over of the new year, I felt God confirming in my spirit that we were entering a new “Dimension” and that we were called to pray, to serve, to listen, to follow, to give, and to be a witness. At last, when I was sitting on the church pews, I could not contain my excitement and joy seeing the crowded church service on the night of December 31st, 2019. I was praying for the new year to come so fast that by the second shout of “HALLELUJAH”, we jumped off the count down and celebrated. We went forward to enjoy ourselves with family and friends and embracing each other’s presence. On another note, I usually gather my husband and children, on the 1st of January, to pray and talk about our personal and collective resolutions. I recall us saying that; we wanted to get closer to God, pray, fast, read His word more as a family, we also wanted to spend more quality time together and try to do some activities such as traveling. A few of my personal resolutions was, to write, do some projects, and work where God led me. I also wanted to have more “time”, which was something that, we all desperately were searching for, like a needle in a haystack. I heard many chanting on the fact that we needed “more time to do this”, “more time to do that”, “oh if only I had more time”, if I would, if I could, knowing that time was precious and of an essence. Consequently, many of my family and friends expressed their concerns about this main factor called “Time” which took away from us every second of hope due to the overwhelming spirit of work, work, work, and more work, in order to fulfill life’s biggest dream of success. Henceforth, one of my biggest new years resolution was to spend more time with my little family.

As the months, were passing by I had a strange feeling that 2020 was, but going to be different but … different but I did not expect the unexpected to come so fast when March 2020 turned things upside-down. Despite all this commotion, I was fortunate to have my father-in-law visit us for the first time in Canada; coming from the Dominican, on March 4th, 2020 (for what was supposed to be for a month but ended to be four months of his helpful resources). As the news was going ramped on the fact that China, France, Italy were impacted by this major life-threatening disease, spreading as vicious as wildfires. It was alarming, especially when I first heard that my, children’s school had to shut down due to an outbreak of a so-called “coronavirus” spread in our district. I also remember finishing my last adult education classes online not being able to gather with classmates to celebrate our finals. Nonetheless, we followed the provincial laws which soon after became a worldwide lockdown. I felt as if time was paused for a moment as if we were watching a science fiction movie and was consumed by it with no port of exit. But this minute took the extension it wanted to take, while we had to face a new reality when something that was supposed to last 2 weeks, dominated our human comprehension.

Weeks and months into it, I could say that I was overtaken by fear of the media, the articles which were exacerbating my spirit, regarding this harmful disease. I would not bear, hearing more about this terrorizing feeling of losing people over this deadly encounter. As a result of this outburst, we were obliged to remain at home, reorganize our affairs, and maintain the media lines on high alert. My heart was bursting with concerns which, I brought to God in prayer, asking him to lead me and show me what I should do instead of murmuring. Because I was not having it easy at the beginning, because I felt paralyzed and numb about what was going and I did not want to face the new reality due to my resistance to change. I think a lot of people can relate; as many fell into a deep depression, anxiety attacks, and random addictions. Not negating how other people coped with it. But I chose to grab hold of God by not letting one bit of these notifications, sanction my desire to live and stay hopeful. I was determined and asked God to work through me, give me strength, and help me to help others. I recalled, that God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power love and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). I was dedicated to keeping, my mental health uplifted, as well as others around me. I was reminded that the word of God says in Ecclesiastes 8:4-7 “Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? Whoso keeps the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discreteness both time and judgment, Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. Since no one knows what will happen, who can tell him what is to come?” This verse showed me, that we may have plans for tomorrow but have no clue of what will happen, we do not have control of the outcome of tomorrow, and that only God knows, so He asks us to have faith and trust him along the way. Not to complain about things we have no control over no matter what happens tomorrow, no matter the circumstance, even if it hurts, even if it doesn’t seem to make sense to the human understanding. God says in his word in Mark 5; 36 ” ³⁶ Overhearing what was being said, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; only keep on believing [in Me and my power].”Overall, this is the essence of our faith, as it is well described in 1 Peter 1:6-7 “⁶ In this you rejoice greatly, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, ⁷ so that the genuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested and purified by fire, may be found to result in [your] praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ”.As a result, it is a great attribute to be teachable in the middle of any circumstances, to be receptive to receive something that will benefit personal, professional, and spiritual growth which will empower one’s life to live gracefully.

In addition to that, I started to shift my mindset, and minimize my hours spent watching the news and feeding my soul with anguish. Instead, I took a turning point and decided to uplift others with positive encouragement from what God inspired me with. I gave my focus fully back to Him, by leading me to start new projects such as gardening, family midnight prayer intercessions, and starting this blog. In expansion, I became more receptive to his calling in my life and my purpose because He caught my attention which was taken away by the time I diapersed in other things before the pandemic. Therefore, He wanted me to draw closer and be sensitive to his spirit and not murmur about the things I, may have lost but looking at the things I have and not taking life for granted. Therefore, I started to count my blessings by being grateful for my life, my health, my children, my family, even my time. As well as the power He has given me with his Holy Spirit, and many more other significant blessings. Altogether, the pandemic though me to be more conscious of others by wearing a mask for the safety of myself and others, for being patient, and being creative with my time. As a matter of fact, God allowed me to put into practice more the notion of “the fruit of the spirit” which is well settled in Galatians 5: 22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law”. So I started to adopt a different attitude and practice mindfulness with His promises mentioned in James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing”. Following in, Philippians 4:6-7  which says “Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus”.

I want to encourage someone out there, to not give up despite what happened in 2020, stay convinced that, we are more than overcomes. Nonetheless, if you are not sure about your own life and want to give Jesus a chance, it is the best decision you can make if you give your life to Him and obey the gospel, and apply His word in your life. Ask him and he will confirm His truth. Likewise, tomorrow is not promised, and do not worry about it. Matt 6: 33-34 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.³⁴ “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”. With that written, it is a reminder that we need to trust Him in the midsts of our tomorrow, which is not saying that we may not have plans of any sort but to put God in all of it and seek Him first. To my fellow believers, stay strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. He has never lost a battle and has brought you from a mighty long way, so He has no attention on leaving you right now and never will. Be exhorted to continue to trust Him in the process, we call “life”. Furthermore, let us practice mindfulness and gratefulness for the things we can cherish now and not take life for granted.

Happy New Year 2021, may this year be a valuable one for you, May God’s peace and covering be with you all-around your family. May you be inspired by Him and bless others with your positively echoing words and compassion. May last year be a lesson for tomorrow and may we learn to be appreciative of our lives today.

Inspired Scriptures

2 Timothy 1:7, Ecclesiastes 8:4-7, Mark 5: 36,1 Peter 1:6-7,Galatians 5: 22-23,James 1:2-4, Philippians 4:6-7,& Matt 6 : 33-34.

My Prayer

Dear God, I thank you for what you have given me thus far and what you will do in 2021. I may not notice it at first but I have confidence in You! that Your perfect will be done in my life. I am praying that we can fall in love with you, again and again, each day that we wake up knowing that you give the breath of life and you have given us so much more. I pray that we make YOU our main focus and you will take care of everything else. You ask us to rejoice in the good and in the bad because we need to be grateful for everything and in everything give thanks, no matter the storm, and trust You and learn to discern right from wrong.You though me to be physically and mentally present for You and my little family and not to overwhelm my mind with concerns I have no control over. Thank You for all of that. Therefore, I leave everything in Your hands. I pray that someone can be blessed by this segment In Jesus Name. Amen

And,

P.S Jesus Loves You