“What is the feeling you associate with this cold weather?” A question posed by a local Christian radio station. The segment is called “Fish Poll”. An opportunity to call in and give your input. And, we did.

A feeling associated with the cold weather eh? The first thought that came to mind is the one of being Thankful, feeling thankful. Thankful? you ask. Yes, because, the cold weather is needed. As it says in Ecclesiastes 3:1,  “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:” NIV.

Thankful, because the cold, the freezing will take care of germs, bugs, and the weak (I don’t mean people). It is funny, the circle of life song from the Lion King comes to mind. God created this amazing, incredible universe for us to live in, with its seasons, not only in nature, but also in our lives. We have seasons much like those of nature. We will for a time bask in the glow and warmth of Summer. We will grow and flourish in our Spring. We will live in the cold and frozenness of our Winters. And then, the Fall will bring with it a loosing, letting go, cleaning out to make ready. If I were to put them in the proper order, Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall and then Winter again, we would see how it all works together.

Winter is rough, cold, and dark. As we look around we have to choose, bundle up, and stay warm and strong in the midst of it all, or sit at the window and worry and complain. Spring is a promise for those of us in Winter. There is joy that comes after trials, after pain. The cold gives way to warmth, slow at first, thawing. In the thawing we realize what we have done, where we have been and we allow ourselves to stretch, to grow, and to flourish. Will it be all pretty flowers and sunshine? No, there are days of heavy rain, maybe even a few with frost. But, the promise is still there. You have made it through this season of Winter. Grow! Summer can be two seasons, one of comfortable, relaxing peace or extremely hot and torturous heat. I like the carefree season of Summer. A time for a deep breath, to stand back and soak it all in. Who am I, where am I and where do I want to go? Time to just think. However, on the flip side, (ha) the heat, soaring temperatures, and the burning, could be reminiscent of, well…? Yes it does exists, and with our faith in Christ we won’t have to visit. Like Winter, Summer also can be a season of trial, temptation, severe thirst. There is an oasis, a way to cool if not quench that heat, it is His Word, the Bible, the Promises and Hope. Psalm 107:4-9 talks about desert and thirst. Here is the last couple verses: Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. How about this: John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” Provision, rescue, and respite.

When Fall rolls around we are preparing. Getting ready for what’s next. We are changing, and storing up. Preparing to begin again if need be, to go through the seasons again. We drop what we don’t need, eliminate to focus, and store up for the coming Winter. Fall is the time to show what we have learned through the previous seasons. To let others see that it is possible to make it through the Winters and Hot Summers and all those days in between. To reflect the glory and grace that God has bestowed upon on us in our season.

Will each season, or each year be the same? No, of course not. Will our seasons be like others? Nope. God created us each individual and unique. Just as no snowflake is the same, no rose identical, no sunrise or sunset repeated, God has made us each who we are. Our seasons will be just that, OUR seasons. As we live through and in them we can share with others how we made it through, how we enjoyed them or how we grew. That is the fun, and most interesting part of being created by a God who loves us. We all have something to give to another.

Thankful, yes. So Mr. Mosquito you can freeze now or meet my hand after the thaw. The radio personalities assumed I meant that I was thankful that I had a house and warmth. They were right in the sense, My home is in heaven and it is He who warms my heart. May you always know there is no season you endure, celebrate or bask in that the God of the universe is not part of. He made them, and is with you always.
Amen