Spaghetti Pie and Bidding 2020 Goodbye... This past spring I found a spaghetti pie at my front door. The note of explanation: “Making 21 meals at home each week is a lot. Tonight’s on me.”  Like me, my friend Heather is a mom of two young kids. She also was making 21 meals at home as COVID-19 forced the closure of both daycare and in-person schooling. And yet she found a way to lighten my load that dreary April day. Eight months later this small act of kindness still means something to me. Can you believe there’s only a few days left in 2020? Did you wonder if we’d ever make it? I certainly had my moments. But here we are on the cusp of 2021. This past year has pressed on each of us in similar and different ways. We’ve had to adapt in almost every area of our lives. Some of us have experienced loss. Others, injustice. Many of us fear, exhaustion, and disappointment. As churches we have also adapted. It has not been easy and the stress fractures are significant. But from where I stand, there have also been many “spaghetti pie” moments on The Network. Moments when someone has taken the time to enter into someone else’s struggle. Honest sharing has taken place on topics such as pastor burnout, anti-racism, online worship (which to be honest, can be awkward), children’s ministry, and so much more. The value of this kind of sharing is evident by the 30% increase in traffic to The Network. But that’s only a number. The real story can be found in the words of encouragement and empathy. The resources shared. Oh, you’re struggling with that? Us too. Here’s one thing that worked in our church. Let’s brainstorm. You’re not alone. And this kind of sharing and helping is worth bringing with us into the new year. Thank you for all the ways you have loved and served each other and thus have loved and served God. Months later, someone might still remember your kindness. —Staci DeVries | 
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