I was thinking recently how tired I am of the cold, snow . . . and more snow . . . and more snow. 

This has been an historic winter in South Jersey and we have been lucky (???) to be a part of it.  I think that more than many other recent years, spring is going to be greeted by most people with an enthusiasm that sometimes lacks with the start of a new season.  But because the snow and cold and dreary, messy winter seems to have lasted forever, two things happen.  We think constantly "When will this ever end?" and secondly a desire to hide inside and just make it through until things improve.

I realize that many of us live our lives the same way.  Things so often are more tough than we wish they would be.  The troubles of life pile up, we endure the coldness of broken relationships, the frustrations of life, and it feels like we are going through an eternal winter.  And it causes us to think, "When will this ever end.  When will my life get better."  And so we spend our time just trying to survive day to day.  There is no joy or contentment, because our focus is on the things that still need to happen to make us happy again.

But I wonder if we have the wrong focus.  Perhaps it is not just about things getting better, about our circumstances improving, about that new job, new relationship or getting healthy.  Maybe it is about seeing the blessings of today, no matter how small they may seem to be.  God promises us that he is with us all the time.  He said that no matter what we face, he is there to walk beside us, give us someone to talk to, and to give us strength in the things we do or face.

By recognizing that Jesus is there for us, that he loves us, maybe it will allow us to actually enjoy the snow, and have fun until spring arrives.