Lauri and I had a great time away last week in Florida. We felt pretty blessed to experience 80 degree days with lots of sunshine. We enjoyed scenic walks, boat rides and visits to state parks. It was pretty refreshing to go outside wearing just a t shirt! I will admit that we checked the weather in Willard every day, but we never gloated in our fortunate circumstances of summer-like conditions… honestly… we never did!
Of course, we were aware of the projected storm that was to arrive last Monday evening, so we decided to leave our vacation a day early to not risk having to drive in wintery conditions… and we are certainly glad that we did! Monday and Tuesday was sure an Ohio winter reality check! Even with a six feet wide snow plow it took me 1 1/2 hours to clear my driveway on Tuesday morning. Talk about a wake-up call! I have some pretty impressive snow piles at the bottom of my drive.
Now, I will be completely honest here… if I had my druthers… I so much prefer 80 degree sunshine-filled days over 12 inches of snow any day! I know, some of you really like winter and snow and the chill in the air… but not me — I’m a summer guy! Give me a choice between 25 degrees and 95 degrees, and I’ll take the 95 thank you very much. But since I live in Northern Ohio, I have learned the necessity of being content in every weather circumstance… because we have them all! The truth is… I have no control over the weather… so I just live by faith that God knows what He is doing.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “For I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13 NLT
Paul is saying here… I can face whatever circumstances might come my way in life, because Christ will give me the strength in the trial or the blessing. He is content that God knows what He is doing.
I know I want to live my life by the example of Paul; to be content in every circumstance in life, because I am confident that God knows what He is doing… and that He will give me strength in the trial and the blessing. And maybe…. just maybe… along the way… I will learn to be content with Ohio winters.
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