Sunday Sentiments: Flourishing in the Frozen

 

When Ryan and I were married a decade ago, we said we should just stay in Florida. December in a warm state is quite a draw. 

When we went back to Florida for our 5^th anniversary, we said we should just stay. 

And when we went back last month, even though we didn’t go quite as far south and the weather wasn’t quite as warm, we once again questioned why we live so far north.

In fact, shortly before we left to come home from our 10^th anniversary trip, we ran into a gentleman who does sand sculptures on the beach. We talked to him for a while and learned he is originally from Michigan. He said he moved to Florida more than a dozen years ago and hasn’t looked back. He told us we should move south and promised we would never regret it.

 I have a feeling he’s not wrong.

 In fact, we heard the same story from several people we met around Florida.

 Yet here we are, living in the Midwest and its wintry offerings. And even though I’d dearly love to shed my heavy coat, gloves, and cute winter hat, there are also things I love about living in the land of four full seasons – even when one of them is brutally cold.

 I’ve been asking the Lord how I can flourish in the frozen. Not just survive it until spring springs…with its gorgeous delicate flower buds and first hints of leaves…but really flourish in fullness. Even when the wind bites until I can’t catch my breath, even when all the layers still aren’t enough, even when I have to pull out the shovels and ice scrapers…how can I truly flourish?

Here’s what I came up with and hope to live out in his cold winter season.

·         Focus – One of the best parts of being mostly confined to the inside is the way the narrowing of my world also narrows my focus. I see fewer things in quite a literal sense, so it allows me (pushes me?) to focus on matters of the heart and home.

·         Laugh – Because Ryan and I are winter-sequestered in the house together, we have plenty of time to laugh, and that indeed brings life and joy. We can look at scrapbooks of memories and laugh over the good times we have enjoyed. We can watch funny movies and TV shows and laugh over those. We can laugh at Lexi, who is funnier than I ever knew a dog could be. Yes, laughter is good winter medicine.

·         Organize – It’s one of my favorites, and we both know I do this year-round, but the winter months push me to organize the inside of our home. That brings me great calm and comfort!

·         Unwind – On the days when it’s too cold to walk outside and the roads are too snowy and icy to drive safely, unwinding at home is the perfect way to rest and rejuvenate. I struggle to unwind when I know there’s much to do, but when the muchness is limited by the frozen outside, unwinding feels so much more permissible.

·         Read – There isn’t a right or wrong time to read, but when darkness falls early and the nights are cold, the time seems perfect to grab a book and learn…or escape to warmer climates tucked between pages.

·         Improve – Maybe a new hobby, maybe the rebirth of an old one laid aside in warmer days – whatever the source, these cold days are perfect for finding something to improve in your life. Improve a character trait. Improve a skill. Improve whatever the Lord leads you to do!

·         Steady – Life isn’t always about adding items or starting new adventures. Sometimes it’s about staying steady and holding on. If the frozen seems to paralyze you and beginning or adding just overwhelms, never fear. Hold steady to what you already do, have, and know!

·         Hope – God is the God of hope, and that is true in any and every season. But when January seems unending and dark, hang onto the hope that spring WILL come. Seasons are just that – seasons. They don’t last forever.

A    And that is one of the things I love most about living in the land of four distinct seasons. They don’t last forever. This frozen winter may seem long, but spring is on its way. Flourish in the frozen now and when the new season comes, flourish in it too!

Psalm 115:14 – May the Lord cause you to flourish, both you and your children.