Snow.  Need I say more?  We’ve been hit with so much snow this winter it is enough to throw your hands up and surrender.  Personally, my muscles are aching, I am tired, yet restless.  Like the rest of us, my work schedule has been messed up, and I’m desperately trying to figure out what needs to be done, and what needs to be rescheduled.  And in the middle of all of this, I’m trying to remind a congregation (and myself) to “be still and know that I am God.” 

While shoveling this morning, I had a conversation with a neighbor.  We were talking about the blessings of all of this.  Yes, blessings.  Our neighborhood is great. The kids play together; the parents hang out together – mostly in the spring, summer and fall.  But once winter hits, everyone goes into their “caves” and hides out; except for this winter.  With all the snow and school closings we’ve gotten together with the kids to go sledding, and drink hot chocolate.  Even the parents hang out and talk.  The snow forced us to take down time (after the shoveling, of course), but the needs of relationship brought us together.  That is a blessing.  My daughter and I have made snow people in our yard.  That is a blessing.  My wife baked fresh cookies and served them to three guys in the kitchen talking about superhero movies.  That is certainly a blessing! 

There are blessings in every day life.  There are blessings in the good, and there are blessings in times of crisis.  God is constantly blessing us, no matter what the situation is.  Even in the bad, God will make things good.

So how have you been blessed this winter?  How has this disruption to the “normal” life been touched by God’s hand?

 May we always seek God’s blessings in our lives,

Bill