Celebrating Life: 20 Things in 2020!

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Friends of ours were married on October 10, 2010. What's so special about that particular day? Well, they decided that the best way to remember their anniversary was to plan their wedding on a special numerical date on the calendar - their date being 10.10.10. And guess what? Their plan has worked!

Just like this couple, we are entering into a new year with a special numerical opportunity for 2020. Wouldn't it be fun to take this unique year and spread around some extra blessings? Now, we could come up with a plan to do 20 special things for our husbands in 2020. Or, perhaps we might dream up ways to bless our church family. But, what if we mixed it all up together and chose 20 things to do in 2020? A simple way to encourage others - and ourselves in the process! A lot of good could come out of this simple strategy for life.

So, in keeping with the 2020 theme, there are a variety of different ways to create unique lists. You could choose one idea and do it 20 times throughout the year or you could choose 20 different things to do. The choice is yours, and the opportunities and options are limitless! 

 Here’s a few ideas I’ve considered doing in 2020. Perhaps they will be a springboard to get your creative juices flowing.

1. Share 20 gifts at random. That’s about 1 gift every other week. I’m thinking $5 or less and gifted to anyone that would not be expecting a little treat. Why? Just to say, I’ve noticed your hard work, or I love you!

2. Send a card (the kind that goes through the post office!) to someone every 20 days, or 20 times this year.

3. Make 20 long-distance phone calls to friends or relatives I rarely take the time to connect with.

4. Share $20 with one individual that could use a bit of encouragement or four different $5 gifts to individuals.

5. Exercise for 20 minutes more per day, every other day or every week. Just get moving again!

6. Visit 20 different coffee shops just for fun - and to take a little 'coffee break' from life!

7. Pray for 20 different people. I may use my address book or church directory. Or, I may make good use of all the Christmas cards we received this year. If I put them in a container and pull one out every other week, we’ll potentially pray for 26 different households throughout the year. (Thanks, Sue, for this great idea!)

8. Treat someone to lunch - a friend or a stranger. (Just pick up the tab!)

9. Share 20 cookies with a friend or one cookie with 20 special people in my life.

10. Take a Sunday afternoon joy ride to anywhere – traveling at least 20 miles!

11. Take 20 minutes per week (or month) to clean out a drawer, closet or corner.

12. Donate 20 items to a thrift store.

13. Enjoy 20 minutes a week reading my Bible. No agenda. Not for a Bible study. Just for fun! 

14. Print out 20 of my favorite photos from my phone. Put them in a mini-album or a frame!

15. Make it a point to take a picture with 20 different friends or family members. (Then, I'll maybe even send them a copy with a note of appreciation!)

16. Randomly add $20 extra to a tip some day when we eat out.

17. Hand out 20 potted plants (like a single pansy) to families who are spending time with a loved one in a hospice house or nursing home.

18. Pick out 20 different Christian songs or hymns to add to my playlist this year.

19. Memorize a Bible verse each month – or maybe just one that has the number 20 in it such as Romans 1:20 which says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

20. Say “I love you” in unexpected ways to my husband throughout the year.

Perhaps your small group or Sunday School class would like to take on the challenge. Together they could send a note to 20 different missionaries during the year or send 20 different notes to one missionary or shut-ins in your church or community. You could learn a chapter of Scripture together like Psalm 100 or Psalm 23. Your worship team could teach the congregation a new song each month or you could challenge your church family to memorize the books of the Bible together - for the first time or as a refresher!

If you like the idea, but are overwhelmed by creating a list or even trying to add one more thing into your schedule, how about just making a note in your calendar or setting a reminder on your phone for the 20th day of each month in 2020. Simply say: Celebrate Today! After all, every day we can say…“This is the day that the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

However you choose to celebrate life in 2020, I wish you a very Happy New Year and pray that God will bless you and your family richly as you trust in Him!

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 Note: Need a few more ideas to get your creative juices flowing? Check out a fun video produced by SkitGuys.com. It is entitled "This year I mean it!" 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXKYNnir55g

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