It’s been a year of non-blogging for me, since other things have taken precedence. Although much of 2020 offered up negatives, our family can also report a big 2020-positive. My 15th grandchild, Elias, was born.
This little guy arrived before his due date—well before. At 7 weeks premature, he was expected to need lots of assistance from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, but he surprised us all. Though he weighed only 4 pounds 3 ounces, he was in great condition and hung around the hospital for just 18 days.
The nurses were impressed with his fast progress, marveling that he never even needed oxygen. Now, three months later, his development is right on schedule, evidenced by his crinkly-eye smiles and lots of direct eye contact.
His diligent parents, Louisa and Teddy, are delighting in this wondrous 2020-positive.
No year, however, is without its negatives, and 
2020 delivered a big one to our family. My brother Tom and his wife Leslie were both killed in their own home by an intruder, a shock from which all of us are still trying to recover. The mystery remains unsolved, and our hearts are broken.
On Friday, a new calendar year begins—day #1, week #1, month #1. None of us knows what will happen on the 364 days that will follow, though we’ll probably try to guess. But as my mother used to say, “God only knows, and he won’t tell.”
So how can we move into the new year with confidence when so much is uncertain? There’s only one way—to believe that our omniscient God will tell us everything we need to know, when we need to know it. And all of it, what we’re surmising and what actually occurs, will be coupled with his promise that he’s got the whole world in his hands. That means we as his children have nothing to fear.
As hard as it is for us not to know what’s ahead, we should remember that in every year, there will be negatives but also positives. Our best bet, then, is to simply trust God, leaning on his power and wisdom instead of our own.
“Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” (Hebrews 10:35-36)
Margaret, I am shocked and saddened to hear about Tom and Leslie. Please accept my sympathy for your loss. Also rejoicing in the new healthy life in little Elias
Thank you, Margaret, for your words. It reminds me of Pastor Sweeting’s sermon entitled “Keep on keeping on”. We can trust completely, the love and the plan of our great God.
I am so sorry for this tragedy that has impacted your family….and rejoice in grand baby #15! Thank you for this blog—I have missed seeing you and reading your posts. ❤️
Dear Margaret,
It is good to see your post (just like old times). We are grateful for little Elias’ good health. And grateful for the love of family and friends. Our hearts grieve for what happened to Tom and Leslie.
But we persevere onward, in God’s strength and with the love and confidence He gives us.
Praising God for the blessing of little Elias. I am grieving with you on the loss of Tom and Leslie. Losing someone so close with whom you have so much shared history brings an indescribable sense of loss and pain. Praying for you as you
continue to draw close to our only source of Hope.
Margaret,
I heard of Tom and his wife’s tragic, horrible death. Your family has been in my prayers much of this yearr. I’m happy to hear of Elias’ birth. These little ones are such precious nuggets of gold. May you, your children, and the Grans be blessed in 2021. God holds you in His hands.
Dear Margaret,
We are so sorry to hear about your brother Tom and his wife. What a terrible thing to happen. Please accept our condolences and prayers for you and the family..
Your grandson is so cute Congratulations to you and the family. May God watch over all these precious little ones and their families too. We will be praying for you all.
God bless,
Faith & Wally
among them acquired “Moral
It was so good to hear from you – I was wondering where you were and what you were doing.
Now I know. You had some precious lives taken from you but a fresh new little one was given to you. God bless you Margaret and please continue to share your deep faith with us.
Doris and Harvey Kallberg
Thank you Margaret. I am thankful for your blog and your words of encouragement as we enter into 2021. I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers as you and your family remember Tom and Leslie.
bride, Julie d’Angenne.