Winter has arrived!

Winter finally arrived here, wet, cold and stormy. We have had a lot of rain this past week and more to come. It has been dark and gloomy outside. We are chilled to the bone. We don't even think of going anywhere because the road is so muddy.
Does all this gloom and dreariness depress us? Not at all! In our part of the country rain is a blessing, especially a soft, steady rain that soaks the earth like the one that has been falling here. We know that putting up with a few days of rain now will result in a delightful Spring and Summer with green fields full of beautiful wildflowers, plenty of food for birds and wildlife, and most of all, replenished reservoirs and lakes. We are thankful to have a nice, warm home and plenty of warm clothes. We have enough food on hands to last until the rains stop and we can get to the store again.

This seems to be a central theme in life itself:
Unpleasant times need to be endured with patience and hope. We endure unpleasant medicines and medical treatments when we are ill in order to enjoy better health later on. Mothers endure childbirth for the joy of having children. Economic sacrifices are made today so that we will have savings for a home, a car, or our own retirement later on in life. We sacrifice to give our children a good home and education so that they will grow up to be healthy, productive citizens and not a drain on society.

Our patient endurance will eventually bear fruit.



This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it....
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For his mercy endures forever.
Psalm 118:24, 29 NKJV