Weathering the Storm

In North Dakota,

We KNOW the storms will come

and we prepare

with hats and coats and gloves 

and benches in our mudrooms.

We tell ourselves it's ok to have more than one pair of boots.

We lay big rugs at the doors,

where we stomp three times

and toe tap twice to get the snow off when we come inside.

Our pantries and freezers are full of food

 just in case...

there's no electricity

or we can't get to the store

or ...just in case.

And when the storm ends

and the sun shines,

we make paths, and clear our drives

with brooms and shovels and snow blowers that we bought on warmer days,

because we knew the storms would come.

Then we clean up after the storm,

piling the snow anywhere,

even in the street.

And we laugh and play

and make the best of the storms aftermath

as if snow is normal

which it pretty much is.

Jesus told us in John 16:33

that storms (troubles) will come.

(Not might - WILL)

Storms of life have lots of different names-

illness, death, divorce, bankruptcy, foreclosure, job loss.

If you haven't had a storm, thank God,

but know that 

according to Jesus, stormy days

 are in the long term forecast.

Proverbs 6:6

Reminds us to consider the ant

and her wisdom in storing up for the winters.

So be prepared.

Make sure the Ephesians 6:10-16 armor

is not just in your closet,

but worn daily

to protect you when the storms of life blow.

When this storm was in North Dakota,

it was "sure a bad one"

with nothing more than serious

"Do Not Travel" warnings.

But now that it has gone through Minneapolis and 

headed for Chicago and the east coast,

it has a name:

Winter Storm Saturn.

I wonder when we started naming storms?

Psalm 30:5 encourages us that

storms (weeping) may last for the night,

but joy comes in the morning.

So hunker down in the storm

like our little south of the border friends

and remember that you'll be

resting in springtime blooms 

 - maybe lilies of the valley - 

 before you know it.

 I think it's also fine to dream

 of warmer days and sunnier places

when you are in a storm.

Don't you?

I hope you are warm and cozy wherever you are.

Thanks for stopping by.