This winter goes in the books for record breaking snowfall
and cancellations of various activities.
I hold nothing against the school or the administrator; but, irritation
arises when seeing the hotline number pop up on the phone. To the kids, it means staying home yet again
to play and avoid school work. To the
parents, it means rearranging the schedules yet again to accommodate the
cancellation. Each day the temperature
rises above freezing, hopes stir of possible ending to this mess; only to be
crushed when the next day presents frigid temperatures in the teens. We lay down seeing pavement on the driveway
and awake to a white blanket hiding it all.
My dear sweet husband will need back surgery before the season
ends.
I have come to a breaking point. I am absolutely fed up with all this snow,
freezing temperatures and fighting to keep warm. I cannot drink enough coffee throughout the
day to remain comfortable. My place of
employment does not allow for wearing of a Snuggie®. And the hot baths continue to destroy what
healthy skin I have left. I desire a day
when I can walk outside without a coat and feel comfortable. The sunshine, warmth and swimming pool
screams my name. Oh, and then there is
camping, baseball and relaxing with the family.
The days seem long with no end in sight to the cold. Often, keeping positive comes with difficultly
when no light can be seen at the end of the tunnel. One mundane day after another of hardship,
difficult decisions, stressful hours, hurtful comments, lacking motivation,
etc.; guess what, my friend, no matter the storm surrounding, there is One to
bring hope, love and comfort to calm your soul.
He uplifts any situation and works for the good of those who seek Him
and love Him. He is the light to any and
all circumstances.
God opened my eyes to beauty surrounding this season. . .He
provided a gorgeous sunset, a fabulous sunrise, and indescribable moon to lull
me to sleep, an afternoon watching a 10 year old and a 33 year old sled down
the back yard, babysitters available with each cancelled school day and
rearranged the important cancellations so that they still could be completed. He doesn’t stop there. In all areas of life, He provides
beauty. There is no storm, no mountain,
no moment I face which He does not make every detail work out perfectly. Through each, I come through stronger and
advance in maturity as a Christian.
He does the same for each and every one of us. Look for Him, He sits waiting to help, guide,
comfort, love, support and use YOU!
Rather than describe how He can change your life and help you face
whatever lay ahead; let me leave you with His Truth to fill you and speak to
your personal situation. . .
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of
those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
(Romans 8:28)
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
(Philippians 4:13)
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than
all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within
us,” (Ephesians 3:20)
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we
have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with
the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that
the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life
worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every
good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all
power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance
and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has
qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the
kingdom of light.” (Colossians 1:9-12)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares
the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give
you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
“. . . because of your
partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being
confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to
completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:5-6)
Keep praying harder than the devil can work.
Sheree Craig
