I meant to write this on Friday. Things got in the way, yet I'm back because the same thoughts are rolling around in my head. Must need to release them. (UPDATE: Just as I was about to publish this, an urgent medical issue arose in my family. God knew the landscape was about to shift some. For now, pray with us, please.)
Friday our area was preparing for the first winter storm of the year and really the only second one this winter. It's been an unusually mild winter to which I haven't been too upset about since it has allowed me to keep my beloved flip flops securely on my feet! Lucas and I were bummed we didn't get snow on Christmas, but other than that, this weather has been just fine with me!
Back to the storm...
Driving to work that morning, it was a beautiful, sunny day. I don't recall the telltale thick white clouds that looked to be full of ice and snow waiting to be poked by God and fall down on us. The skies were blue and the sun shining.
Wondering if maybe the forecast had changed suddenly, I checked when I got to work. Nope, freezing rain was still coming to be followed by 3-6 inches of snow. We were in the direct path of the mess.
By noon, the aforementioned thick white clouds appeared and by about 5 p.m. they'd been poked and began to spit drizzle down.
By Saturday morning, we got the freezing rain leading to quite a few local accidents and power outages. Saturday evening brought the heavy snow...for just a few hours. For some reason, the storm only lightly touched us and moved on. Not bad for a Midwest storm.
By Sunday, our local landscape had changed significantly though. No more can we see the brown grassy areas that we call yards this time of year. Those patches are now blanketed in pure white. Unfortunately, the cars on the streets have turned that pristine snow into black and grey ickiness. It's still not cold enough around here to have kept the tree's branches covered in snow, though. That part is kinda sad because that is one of my favorite things to see snow rest on. It's a beautiful sight!
Today, things are back to normal, no more alarms being sounded about that storm because a new one is on the radar now. Welcome to the Midwest. No worries, we're used to it....
Or are we???
Storms in the Midwest are no different than the storms in our lives.
We go full-steam ahead, sunny skies shining high above us, birds chirping, cars honking because - well, drivers around here are crazy! Then, literally out of the blue sky clouds roll in thick with circumstances about to rain down. And, if you're like me, your umbrella is probably NOT with you at the time.
Life is messy. Life stinks sometimes. The landscape changes so fast we don't even get a chance to enjoy the sun for the rain at times. It goes from winter chill to full on storm in the matter of moments. And it doesn't care if we weren't prepared. Remember when we'd play hide and seek as children and the "it" person would yell, "Ready or not, here I come?!"
Yeah, we don't always get the courtesy of a warning.
But, the beautiful part? The landscape changes quickly back to clear, even if the landscape of your life is left a bit altered. Time continues, smiles reappear, laughter returns, the painful hearts ease. The Lord sees you and is with you in the midst of every changing storm and every changed landscape.
Stop looking for only what you had before and take a moment to grasp the beauty of your new landscape. Find the joy in today, not replay only the joys of yesterday.
Friday our area was preparing for the first winter storm of the year and really the only second one this winter. It's been an unusually mild winter to which I haven't been too upset about since it has allowed me to keep my beloved flip flops securely on my feet! Lucas and I were bummed we didn't get snow on Christmas, but other than that, this weather has been just fine with me!
Back to the storm...
Driving to work that morning, it was a beautiful, sunny day. I don't recall the telltale thick white clouds that looked to be full of ice and snow waiting to be poked by God and fall down on us. The skies were blue and the sun shining.
Wondering if maybe the forecast had changed suddenly, I checked when I got to work. Nope, freezing rain was still coming to be followed by 3-6 inches of snow. We were in the direct path of the mess.
By noon, the aforementioned thick white clouds appeared and by about 5 p.m. they'd been poked and began to spit drizzle down.
By Saturday morning, we got the freezing rain leading to quite a few local accidents and power outages. Saturday evening brought the heavy snow...for just a few hours. For some reason, the storm only lightly touched us and moved on. Not bad for a Midwest storm.
By Sunday, our local landscape had changed significantly though. No more can we see the brown grassy areas that we call yards this time of year. Those patches are now blanketed in pure white. Unfortunately, the cars on the streets have turned that pristine snow into black and grey ickiness. It's still not cold enough around here to have kept the tree's branches covered in snow, though. That part is kinda sad because that is one of my favorite things to see snow rest on. It's a beautiful sight!
Today, things are back to normal, no more alarms being sounded about that storm because a new one is on the radar now. Welcome to the Midwest. No worries, we're used to it....
Or are we???
Storms in the Midwest are no different than the storms in our lives.
We go full-steam ahead, sunny skies shining high above us, birds chirping, cars honking because - well, drivers around here are crazy! Then, literally out of the blue sky clouds roll in thick with circumstances about to rain down. And, if you're like me, your umbrella is probably NOT with you at the time.
Life is messy. Life stinks sometimes. The landscape changes so fast we don't even get a chance to enjoy the sun for the rain at times. It goes from winter chill to full on storm in the matter of moments. And it doesn't care if we weren't prepared. Remember when we'd play hide and seek as children and the "it" person would yell, "Ready or not, here I come?!"
Yeah, we don't always get the courtesy of a warning.
But, the beautiful part? The landscape changes quickly back to clear, even if the landscape of your life is left a bit altered. Time continues, smiles reappear, laughter returns, the painful hearts ease. The Lord sees you and is with you in the midst of every changing storm and every changed landscape.
Stop looking for only what you had before and take a moment to grasp the beauty of your new landscape. Find the joy in today, not replay only the joys of yesterday.
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