My hope for 2021… well I think we all hope that this novel pandemic would completely disappear.

But more realistically, I hope to get the chance to enjoy those simple little things that have been stripped away from us.

In 2021, I want to go to my lil’ brother’s football games, have my sixteenth birthday party, go on vacation again, and hang out with my friends.

I miss going to clogging competitions, watching my cousin’s baseball games, and enjoying the occasional “night out.”

I would like to enjoy the small moments without worrying about contracting the virus and giving it to those I love dearly.

I would love to shake a hand and give a hug without fearing if there would be any consequences.  I miss breathing freely and standing a little closer to those I’m speaking to.

Missing the things that I never took the time to appreciate before has led me to treasure them in my heart now.  I believe that losing those small experiences in 2020 made me realize the simple things we take for granted.

With that being said, I hope that in 2021, we will experience the little things.

I pray that my great grandmother can celebrate her 95th birthday with all of her family.

I pray that I can turn on the news and see acts of courage and kindness instead of negativity. 

In 2021, I want the people to look up from their screens and see the beauty of the real world.  

I hope to see the pews full in every church this year.  I pray I can help one person see God’s grace.

I hope that we would recognize God’s hand on our nation. I hope that we will see the miracles that take place everyday.

I want to be more aware of His healing presence in 2021.  And I hope that His presence will bring our nation back together.  

In 2021, I hope that as we go through the motions of everyday life, that we would see the deeper meaning.

I hope that we will treasure the moments that we are given.

If we learned anything in 2020, it’s that in a moment’s notice, everything we know can be taken away.

So I hope that as we do everything that we do, having all those little moments, that we would remember who gave them to us.