My quarantine baby is about to be 1!!  Born at the start of shut down, his arrival was very exciting, but not necessarily in all the usual good ways.  I can hardly believe it’s been a whole year!  First birthdays in our family are fun, big, celebratory parties that include our large family as well as friends. We laugh watching them dig into their first cake.  This little one's life so far has been nothing like his siblings’. There are many family and friends he has not met.  We were fortunate enough to give him a lot of fun experiences over the past year, but he missed out on a lot, too.  So how do we celebrate our joy of 2020 in a way he deserves with so much uncertainty still in the shadows?  

So many occasions this past year have felt like less than what we think was deserved.  Traditions and parties were stifled.  Vacations canceled.  A lack of ability to enjoy in-person church or Bible study.  In some instances, an inability to reach out and help, for physical and mental reasons. 

Through this, God remained with me.  He helped me see what I did have.  I always have Him.  I had more intimate family time and celebrations.  I connected deeper with those closest to my family (in our quarantine circle, if you will).  I got long-ignored to-do lists completed (okay, started).  So if God was faithful in these things, the real question is not what good things do we deserve, but what does God deserve from us?  

Romans 12:13, “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

We are to show God’s love, grace, and joy.  We have stories to share!  Do you have as much trouble as I do putting yourself out there to talk about God’s work in your life?  What if someone is not a believer already?  What if they have no interest?  What if they disagree or are against our beliefs?  What if the discussion gets heated?  In our human nature, it is easy to become defensive and lose our own cool.  

2020 has been a year many of us have found ourselves with differences of opinions and in arguments; with lack of understanding, grace, and love.  Our world made it simple to give in to putting our own desires first.  I am personally ashamed of those times.  But again, what does God deserve?  

1 Peter 3:8-12 states: “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.””

 Easier said than done!  But let us focus.  Let us listen to others in an effort to understand.  Let us share our stories or our opinions with respect.  Let us give grace in mistakes.  Let us be humble knowing there is always one greater than us.  Let us show love because we are all alike.  And as God asks, show hospitality to those in need - even harder yet, those who do not believe.

And as for what my son deserves for his first birthday, he deserves our love and all we are capable of providing this year.  Those who are able to gather will gather.  Those who are not, we will see, thanks to the blessing of amazing technology at our fingertips (how are you reading this right now?).  We will have us.  We will have fun.  We will have laughter.  And we will have cake!

ABOUT OUR BLOGGER

A former teacher, coach and personal trainer, Kristin Ryan now loves being a stay-at-home mom. As someone who has more recently found Christianity, she enjoys learning and growing in her faith and is excited to share her experience with others. Kristin and her husband, Casey, have three small children (one was born during the pandemic) and one big dog.

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