What do you call...

Alright fellow humans. It's December 31st, 2020. We made it to the end of what is arguably one of the hardest years in memory. So, what do we call someone who makes it to the end of this year?

I guess we have to set parameters first.

1. We saw the rise and fall, and rise and flattening, and rise of COVID-19...

2. We listened to dozens of candidates,

   1. and watched as they became a handful of candidates,

   2. and listened as they became a couple of candidates,

   3. and marveled as they stopped beating on each other and started beating on the other guy,

   4. and wondered or whooped as they just plain beat the other guy.

3. We watched as stocks plummeted

   1. and held our breath as they rose to record highs.

4. We were heart broken when the CDC reported the 100,000th American death from Coronavirus

   1. and again when the CDC reported the 200,000th death

   2. and again when they reported the 300,000th death

5. We watched as large swaths of America threw cops under the bus wholesale

   1. when apparently one bad cop means all cops are bad

   2. but one bad Hollywood producer doesn't make all Hollywood producers bad

   3. and one corrupt politician doesn't make all politicians corrupt.

6. We painted our streets and hid our faces and destroyed viewership over cries for equal justice

   1. and we called for reparations

   2. and we tore down statues

   3. and we renamed streets and bases and regions of the nation

   4. but we didn't actually change anything that matters - just sounded cymbals.

7. We can buy marijuana cannabis in 48 states, but you cannot buy a 20-round magazine in CA

   1. not that you can find ammunition to fill your magazine

8. We lost trust in media

   1. and started trusting social media

   2. and complained when a private company's fact checkers didn't actually check all the facts

Whew! That's quite a lot, and it's not a comprehensive list, either. I can bet anyone reading this can add a dozen more challenging things we faced in 2020. So what do we call someone who made it to the end of 2020?

Blessed.

We call them blessed.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the [a]earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matt 5:4-12, NKJV)

(Photo: Billboard.com)