By: Rebecca Little, Lower Elementary principal

2020 is almost over. Yes, it has been a hard and unusual year, and we are all ready for 2021. However, instead of focusing on the weariness, difficulties, and division this year has brought, let us look back and remember how God revealed Himself to us, carried us through, and increased our faith.

REFLECT

In the book of Joshua, the Lord told Joshua after crossing the Jordan River into the land of Jericho to have a man from each of the twelve tribes of Israel take a stone from the center of the river where they had walked through on dry ground. Joshua set up the twelve stones as a memorial at Gilgal.

“And he said to the people of Israel, ‘When your children ask their fathers in times to come, “What do these stones mean?” then you shall let your children know, “Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.” For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.’”
Joshua 4:22,24

Looking back on 2020, there is much to be thankful and give God praise and glory for. There are many stones that we can find from this year to stack as a memorial so that we have a reminder of our sovereign and steadfast King and how He allowed a pandemic to bring us to a deeper trust and reliance on Him.

We need to reflect on these things so that we are able and prepared to share with our children’s children and others when they ask about the pandemic of 2020.

REMEMBER

So, how have you seen the Lord work in your life this year? How has your faith been challenged to grow? What have you learned?

• Are we not grateful for innovation and technology? Being able to stay connected and have virtual school in the spring was a blessing. It was God giving us creative minds, flexibility, and endurance to finish our school year.

• I do believe that our character and our children’s character has been challenged to grow in perseverance, fortitude, grit, and flexibility.

• God is teaching us to be content to trust His will amid uncertainty, difficulty, and change.

• We have learned new ways to do things that are better and are what have been termed “COVID Keepers”.

• God has blessed us with in-person school this fall.

• We have had more family time and have been forced to slow down and be still before God.

• We have a newfound gratitude for anything that is “normal” again.

• I think most of us never ran out of toilet paper. (I just had to throw that one in!)

And there are so many more!

What are the stones your family can stack as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and the mighty hand that He graciously showed during this crazy and trying year?

I encourage you to take some time at the dinner table before the end of the year to talk about your memorial of stones from 2020.

As we reflect and remember now and in years to come, we will see clearly that His grace was sufficient in 2020, and it will continue to be forevermore! Glory be to God!