2020 A Year in Review by Rosie Meester
Photo by Danielle J Photography
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. God has made everything suitable for its time; moreover God has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has done this, so that all should stand in awe before him.”
This year I, like most of you, spent significantly less time with most of the people in my life. I did, however, see a whole lot of my dog. Chris and I spent so much time with Rosie that we nominated her to write our Christmas letter for 2020.
Woof!
My parents have been working non-stop the past few weeks for a holiday called Christmas. So, they put me in charge of the family Christmas letter.
What a year 2020 has been. What can I say? It's the best year ever! Mom and dad have been home since March, which means they are with me all the time! More belly rubs, more snuggles, more dog treats: life is great! I hope it's like this all the time.
Mom has been busy working from home when she should be playing with me. I mean, she is in her chair at her computer all day. That's boring. She spends a lot of time knitting and playing a game called Animal Crossing. Doesn’t she know I’m the only animal she needs? She also has a book club now.
Dad works over at the church. Sometimes, I get to visit. Instead of sleeping at home, I get to sleep in the office. He too has been playing games on the TV. One is called Pokemon! He catches all sorts of cool creatures, but none of them are squirrels. He also went on lots of runs this summer around town and cooks all the tastiest food.
As for me, I spent most of my days sleeping. I found out if I go to the kitchen and sit on the rug while Dad is making food, he will slip me some chicken. So, that's been pretty good. We went on long car rides up to cabins a few times this year and it was awesome. I got to watch mom swim and dad nap. They played a lot of board games and enjoyed sitting by the fire. Now it is time for me to go play with my new lamb toy for Christmas. It has FIVE SQUEAKERS! I bring it with me wherever I go! I hope you have as great a day as I am about to!
2020 has been the best year for this dog. I love life and my humans!
Merry Christmas from our pack to your pack,
The Meesters
I will confess, Rosie did not actually pen that note. Her lack of opposable thumbs makes it difficult to hold a pen or type on a keyboard so Chris and I wrote the letter for her. I really enjoyed reflecting on the year through the eyes of my dog. It reminded me of perspective and how a shift in how we see things might change the way they look.
Don’t get me wrong, no matter which way you spin it this year was really tough. Even without the Corona virus there was plenty of grief and pain for individuals and communities that I care deeply about. I had my own struggles, wrestled personal demons. I won’t diminish those experiences by saying, ‘oh if we just look at it a little differently it isn’t so bad.’ Rather, I want to give us an opportunity to also recall the joy and laughter that was also present. Instead of trying to decide if this year was a complete disaster or the best thing ever let’s acknowledge that it had incredibly difficult moments and really beautiful ones. The good moments don’t need to outweigh the bad ones in order for us to remember and appreciate them.
Our Ecclesiastes text acknowledges the breadth of life, of years like this, and points to God’s presence therein. These words are not meant to teach us God dictates every event or season and we are just here to observe and take things in stride. They are a promise that no matter what season of life we are in God is with us. This promise encourages us when it is time to shift from one time to another, when the bad days bleed into the good, and when the past, present and future are shadowed in fear and doubt.
This year, Rosie got lots of pets, belly rubs and treats. She loved being home with us and going on car rides. Also, when Chris and I were having a bad day she was read to get us out of bed, snuggle on the couch, or absorb our tears of anger, grief and frustration. She was fully present no matter how good or bad the day was. God is even more loyal and persistent.
As one year ends and another begins I invite you to reflect on the presence of God in every season this year brought, and to look forward to the times that are coming. Leave a comment here or on facebook with a beautiful or hard thing that happened or a place you witnessed God! And, as you enter 2021 may God bless you with strength, hope, and humility.