Well just like everyone else it seems, 2019 was full of pretty significant ups and downs. Last year this time I was living in an apartment on the other side of town. Today I woke up in my own bed (albeit a hospital bed) in my own house with my family.
That’s a plus I would say.
I do admit however that I’m not feeling the greatest the last couple of days. In fact, I feel like I’ve been fighting a cold so I’ve stayed in bed and cancelled our New Year’s eve plans. (I do feel like I’m coming out the other side of that; at least I hope so.)
That would be a downer I would say.
However, I get to spend the evening here in the house with Erinn while Cate goes out with her friends for New Year’s.
That, I would say, is a plus.
Ups and downs, pluses and minuses, good things and not so easy things; that’s life in a nutshell. 2019 was full of great meals, awesome movies, Wonderful new music, really nice books, and good times with my family. It was also full of hard stuff; sickness, hospital visits, ambulance rides, deaths in the street community, exhaustion at work for Erinn, and the uncertainty of life around every corner.
Life.
So complicated.
So full of wonder.
So full of pain.
So full of joy.
On Sunday past, the last Sunday of the decade, I got to go to church with Erinn at the Dale. The church was full of people who could be complaining about how hard life is. But instead, they were full of joy and gratitude. I was thankful to be there.
I was thankful to be reminded that there is so much to be grateful for in this life. I was thankful, especially with Erinn being the pastor of this church, that this was my last worship service of the decade. I can’t think of a better way to finish the year off.
Praying for more ups than downs in 2020 for you all and for those you love.
Peace