It was a typical weekday night. Just the four of us sitting around the table eating dinner as our son shared about his day. Then Abbey piped up and proudly announced, “I’m a winner!”. Clearly, she was feeling particularly proud of herself for something and knew that if brother was sharing this must be a good time to proclaim it. 

“I’m a winner”, what an awesome phrase. For most people blurting something out like this would be seen as a social taboo. Outright bragging. Unless of course you just found out that you have the winning lottery ticket or that your team won the big game, but even then, most likely you’d say, “I won” not “I am a winner”. Not Abbey. For her this was a first in recognizing she’d done something good with her day and she was claiming the win.  

What if we all lived like this in the new year. I don’t mean to suggest that we all suddenly go around bragging about our wins, but maybe there is a little something here to learn from my outspoken girl. 

This past year was truly one of the hardest ever. It was hard on so many levels not only personally for our family but for everyone. Our family began the year with the sudden and unexpected passing of Eric’s Mom. It was devastating. Then we were all quickly catapulted into the COVID quarantine in the midst of our deep sorrow and grief. It was grief upon grief with so many compounded losses, and hard upon hard with all that needed to be juggled with our daughter now home full time and needing around-the-clock care. But with each new hard, hectic, and heart-breaking thing that came our way this past year there was often also a bright spot that brought us hope. And with each loss there was often some kind of win. 

In this year of many hardships and losses our family found that we grew in empathy, compassion, and grace for one another and were bonded together even more tightly with each shared experience. I think this and many other blessings like it happened for allot of us this year. We survived and even at times, by God’s grace, thrived in the year 2020. Frankly we are all winners having made it through this past year. So yes, you can absolutely give yourself a pat on the back and proudly announce just like our girl, “I’m a winner!”.

Happy New Year to all! May this year be blessed beyond measure (Ephesians 3:20).