So, I’ve had several opportunities over the past couple weeks to get in my ‘winter workout’ as I like to call it. Its like circuit training but involves pushing and shoveling snow, scraping ice, clearing off vehicles, and if enough snow, even slinging around the snowblower. These may not be everyone’s favorite activities to go through, given the time they take, but for some to function and get to work, etc, it is a necessary task. In fact, some don’t bother with this and instead drive around with piles of snow on their vehicles and try not to get stuck in snow covered driveways, but either way, it can be an inconvenience. What is your attitude when you see 4” of freshly fallen snow cover everything? Does your mind immediately go to what all you have to do to get things ‘back to normal’, grumble to others so they will appreciate all the work you do, or just sit back and appreciate the lovely scenery? When you hear school is canceled and you get a snow day, do you still get excited like when you were in grade school, or do you start to dread the day instead?
He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor. Job 37:6-7
Whether it is too much snow on a cold Winter day, or a downpour when you were planning an outdoor event, sometimes our plans get shelved and we have to adapt to what we have before us in any given moment. Its also cold and flu season and I’ve heard several people cancel plans because they were dealing with sickness in their homes – and are nice enough not to share it with everyone. So, how do you respond when things don’t always go the way you planned them? It can be a humbling experience when you put a lot of work into something to have it go different than what you had planned. It also reminds us that ultimately, we are not always in charge of what goes on from day to day. They say it is pointless to complain, because it does us no good anyway. So why do we do it? What is your response when someone you care about starts whining about their situation to you?
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 1 Timothy 6:6-7
What should be our response when things don’t go our way? If something we did caused our current predicament, it should be a learning opportunity. I don’t know how many times I’ve said this past month, ‘I don’t think I’ll do it that way again.’ But when faced with a change of plans, how can we make the best of it? I didn’t always drop everything and just go play in the snow this past week, but I did find opportunities to try to enjoy parts of it. I had some young helpers who seemed to enjoy assisting me push snow, even if it wasn’t always in the right direction. I had a slight sense of satisfaction and thankfulness when I made it to my destination after sliding around town and not getting into an accident. I appreciated a warm house, my health, a job, and my family a little more when I realized how things would be without them. In general, I think a thankful attitude goes a long way in dealing with any adversity in life, no matter how big or small it may be. Its easy to complain, but its always better to be thankful!
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Yours in Christ,
Clark
