HOW DID YOU FIND JOY IN 2020?
2020…Where do I start? It’s been a year – that’s for sure. I think most people can agree that 2020 was not the best year for one reason or another. However, amongst all of the chaos and suffering that this year has brought, there has also been so much good. For myself in particular, this might have been one of my best years, I have grown so much and formed and strengthened my relationships with those around me. My city was hit by a tornado just a week before the pandemic was in full force – I saw the good in people, the kindness and the love.
As a company, the best part of our year was you. The reader, the writer, the gift giver – we appreciate all of you. We say this each year, and each year it’s true. But in a year like this, when so many companies were struggling to stay afloat, you made this our best year ever.
So, this made me wonder, what sparked joy for others this year? A few of our CKN Christian Publishing authors shared their positive experiences. And if you cannot think of something good that happened in your life, maybe you’ll find joy in the stories of others.
“The year brought pestilence, tempests, turbulence and turmoil to the whole wide world. Wow! What a year, heh? I endured both a heart attack in the Spring and a severe case of SARS COVID- 19 in the Fall. Many experienced worse and lost more. Yet, we’re thankful because we endured. Although we’ve suffered and mourned our losses, we’re thankful for what remains. Thankful for God’s mercy and justice, for His loving kindness, grace, and the hope of heaven. Thankful for friends and family, thankful for each other. Endurance has its rewards. If you’re reading this, I’m thankful for you.” – Dan Arnold
“I’m thankful that in 2020 the first three books in my Caroline Neville Mystery series came out, I signed a contract for three more, one of my twin sons got engaged and the other graduated from medical school, and I got to keep holding babies in the neonatal intensive care unit as a hospital volunteer.” – John Duckworth
“2020 has stripped away the thin veneer of our false sense of security but assured me that God is still in control, and that is comforting.” – John Theo Jr.
“As we come to the close of 2020, I’m grateful for my health and for the kindness of most people. One gigantic event that I’m super grateful for is CKN Christian Publishing getting ready to launch my Wild Cow Ranch series with co-author Natalie Bright!” – Denise F. McAllister
“The most wonderful thing that has resulted from this unusual year has been the knowledge that God is in control. When confronted with issues that were completely out of my own fragile control, my first instinct was not to shrug and say, Oh, well. God is in control. But ultimately, the God of the universe is in control of our circumstances, and He is worthy of our trust.” – Rachael C. Duncan
“The greatest blessing to our family in the year 2020 is actually one of the most painful experiences we have ever known. Our Granddaughter, Hayden, had been diagnosed with Osteosarcoma Bone Cancer at nine years old in 2017. She passed away in February of 2020 at twelve years old – ten people came to Jesus at Hayden’s funeral. Jesus said, “No,” to healing Hayden, but he wasn’t finished. He used Hayden’s short lifetime to save others. To my family and me, that is an amazing blessing to be remembered for the remainder of our lives.” – Ken Pratt
“2020 was all about change and some surprising opportunities. Our youngest moved out, and while I miss seeing his face every day, I’m happy that he has begun the journey called life. The year was also a milestone in that I discovered a workable process for co-authoring and gained control of my daily writing schedule. It turned out to be a very productive year.” – Natalie Bright
“God is still alive, is still God, and is still on the throne of heaven. And that Jesus Christ is still Lord. His love and forgiveness are still ours for the asking. All He wants of us in return is that we confess our sins and turn from our wicked ways. God has been good to our family this year. We are very thankful that health issues were quickly dealt with. There were losses in the extended family (Ollie’s brother, Bob, and sister-in-law, Anne) that we will continue to grieve. Ollie and I wish you true heavenly blessings this season. And the greatest blessing is that you might know Him and trust Him as Savior.” – Reg Quist
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.