New Year’s Eve, 2019

I seriously cannot think of a single thing to say about 2019 except, “Thank you. Praise Jesus.” It was at times really hard, but because I focus on Blessings so much I can honestly say I cannot give you a list of the negative stuff because I really do not remember. 🙏

Today on the way home I changed lanes and apparently -unbeknownst to me- took some late 60ish-mid 70ish man’s spot. He chased me down in his car, laid on his horn, screamed out his window -all the while giving me the finger out his drivers side door. A normal person might have honked and given me the finger. This man relentlessly laid on his horn and didn’t stop until he finally saw me mouth the words, “I made a mistake, I said I was sorry. What else do you want?” (Even at this point I knew, if he could get away with it, he’d have gotten out of his car in order to scream at me some more.)

I don’t mind telling you all that I cried all the way home and I am crying as I write this. What that man did not know is that I was on my way home from helping my elderly parents all day today. I was already driving home shaken, knowing my Mom and Dad are not long for this earth. I was driving home trying to fathom what it will be like when they are gone.

When I saw that man with his middle finger in my face, I wanted the world to stop and reverse. When I was growing up adults, especially men, conducted themselves with respect. If they were upset by a mistake in traffic, they didn’t lose their dignity and behave as vile as this man did. In fact, they were much more kind and gracious.

Key word: Dignity. (Most people maintained it.)

Worse. I looked in the passenger seat of his car. There sat a woman looking out the window as if this is a daily occurrence.

So. If I have a wish for 2020 it’s this: Let’s all find our compassion for one another. We all make silly mistakes (especially in traffic). You have no clue what someone else has been through in a day. Stop for just a moment and remember how YOU would like to be treated and do THAT ALWAYS. Period.

I would be lying if I said I wished that vile man well. I don’t. He makes me mad. But the truth is that HE is probably just like me, dealing with things he is unprepared for. Tonight when he tries to go to sleep, I highly doubt he still has the same contempt for me as he did today in traffic. So yup, he will be in my prayers.

After all of this. Tonight is STILL my favorite Holiday. When the clock strikes midnight, it’s all new again.

We can ALL find a way to do better in the coming year and THAT makes me happy. I love you ALL. Happy New Year!