I grew up in a very patriotic household. My mom was a Scottish immigrant and nothing gave her more pride than when she became a U.S. citizen. As a kid, I went to Nixon rallies and I wrote Tricia Nixon telling her that she was my role model. In sixth grade, I won third place in the state of California for my essay, “Why We Should be Loyal to the Flag.” My bedroom was painted red, white, and blue.

With Dolly Parton singing in my ear, “Here you come again,” happy new year! We won’t repeat 2020. You, dear reader, will assure me that 2021 is not going be another “Groundhog Day,” right? OK! We’re off to an awesome start.

It’s time for “What Were the Most Read ‘Inspiring Generosity’ Blog Posts in 2020”? I’m sure that you've been sitting on the edge of your seat in anticipation. I know I have! Hooray! The wait is over, so here goes. We’re counting backwards to keep up the suspense (insert tense music here).

I don’t know about you, but I subscribe to way too many things. Every morning when I look at my emails, I face an onslaught of posts that beg me to open them. They tempt me. They lure me in. They look so very interesting. And then I hit “delete.”

I am a Saturday Night Live aficionado. I remember religiously watching its first and second and maybe the third season with my parents (which a lot of people thought was either weird or awesome). I now gasp when I say that was 46 years ago. Maybe I should be put in a museum.

It’s now become cliché: This will be a Thanksgiving like no other Thanksgiving. It’s true. For the past seven years, in my world, three different families have gathered together to share the day. We are not family in the strict sense of the word but we are chosen family.

Technology is not my friend. My spouse and I test drove a new car on Friday and it stopped working. We had to get a loaner to get back to the dealer. Yesterday, I was on the phone (I kid you not) for FOUR hours trying to get a “simple” phone problem fixed (and it wasn’t fixed). After that, I had to mail in my computer for repair. And to top it all off, as I was watching the terrible/awful show “The Bachelorette” last night because someone has to, the TV stopped working. Well, that last one may have been a sign from the Lord about my viewing habits. Just a guess.

It seems like it’s been a hundred years since we last talked about stewardship or money or fundraising here, doesn’t it? Time seems to move so slowly these days.

What? You say it was Saint Paul? And he said it a few times? Maybe not exactly in those exact words, but pretty close? Oops. My bad. Sorry Paul

Exactly four years ago – on the very Wednesday before the election – I wrote “My Silent Witness.” The 2016 presidential campaign was coming to a close and wow – it had been brutal. For six months prior to the 2016 election, I wore a necklace every day bearing words based on Micah 6:8: “Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly.”