A Muted Celebration

While the gatherings to ring out the year will be limited in attendance, they will be nevertheless be occasions of joy. We give thanks for surviving what perhaps we be for most of us the most stressful twelve months we have encountered. We remember the souls that did not make this day, especially those who succumbed to COVID-19. We pray God will grant us relief and healing in the upcoming days. And as we listen to, and perhaps sing, the following words penned by Robert Burns, we may notice the melancholy in some of the verses and the hope in the refrain:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pu'd the gowans fine;
But we've wandered mony a weary fit
Sin' auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidled i' the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roared
Sin' auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught
For auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne, 

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

May God bless us in 2021. May His peace flow abundantly as He aids us in recovery. May we turn to Him in all hope and trust, resting with assurance in His merciful love.

Happy New Year, Everybody!