How does this happen every year? January gets a warm up and then January slaps us in the face with bitter cold and cars that won’t start… I seem to buy at least two batteries every year… and one of them fancy “booster” chargers, it never seems to be enough that I change batteries and heaters and chargers and own a heated shop and, and ,and…. I still find myself looking down the double barrel shotgun of cold weather that hits -20,-25-, -30… and even a cool -40. If you are north of the US border, my Canadian friends, this is also their fate, but my neighbors in the south, east and west, sub freezing is a challenge (ha, all the way to like 30 degrees ABOVE ZERO).
This morning Jess and I were preparing for our Sunday morning bible study at church, reading about the “Good Shepherd” and talking about the attributes of Jesus in his earthly ministry. I felt comfort in knowing this cold will not last forever and in three days time the cold will end and we will once again be above Zero… AHH THE WARMTH OF 20 ABOVE.
How often do we not take the gifts of God seriously? Like cold weather that clears out the land and prepares it for the lush green of summer? I think of the deer, moose, mice, bobcats… all the critters in the forest that struggle with not having a warm house and on demand food sources and pantries filled to the brim… and yet our God knows each hair of every critter.
I need to get going because I know the car wont start this morning as I know it needs a battery, so off I go to grab the “jump starter” and pull cords that crack in the cold, hoods that fight you every step of the way with ice and cold, dogs that want to hide inside and pigs that squeal with ear piercing sounds of excitement over a bag of feed.
Stay warm and remember, we have life abundantly because we have a savior that loves us and provides for us everything we need to do HIS will, if we surrender our will for HIS will.
Warm fuzzy hat with flaps? CHECK!
Long johns that cover the legs giving a second or third layer of protection? Check!
Gloves? Check!
A second pair of gloves to replace the wet gloves after watering the pigs? Check!
A good attitude about the cold? Well?… HELLO? Nevermind, I can’t win them all.
Charlie