In trying to figure out what to write, the Lord led me directly to this post (May 2011) which was extremely close to what I was going to write, so instead of duplicating it, I am reposting it. The only difference is that it's been gloomy and cold here with some rain, and the world events have changed yet still are tragic.
* * * * *
Is it three or four weeks
of near continual rain? I’m not sure
anymore. All I know is there have only
been two reasonably warm and dry days of late.
I miss the sun. I miss having
light in the sky and seeing any colour besides gray. I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my
face and try to figure out what the fluffy clouds look like floating by in the
blue sky.
The other day when the sun
broke through for a while, I went out and took a picture because it has been so
rare that I forgot what a sunny sky looked like. It was wonderful while it lasted even if it
wasn’t very long. Still, I appreciated
it. It’s weird how we forget to be
thankful for the simple things (like sunshine) in life until they are gone.
I can’t quite remember who
I was talking to a couple days ago, but we were commiserating about life’s
struggles: gas prices, taxes, food price
increases while wages stay the same, the weather being miserable, and
more. Immediately it dawned on me that
we aren’t so bad off. In Japan with earthquakes, tsunami, and radiation, or
the southern U.S. where tornadoes have devastated homes, lives have been lost; here
there is no flooding like Australia or drought as in China . I
don’t really worry about my kids being shot, starving, homeless or without
medical treatment. It certainly could be
worse!
Right now, my perception
just needs to change. I need to see the
Son shining down in my life. With His
light on my face I can tolerate the gray skies, and be thankful that miserable
weather is all we are experiencing.
These scriptures are a reminder that whatever struggles we are in,
whether small or great, whether short lived or continual, that God should be
thanked- for He gives us peace, comfort and He is with us always*:
-Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Eph. 5:20
-In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus concerning you. 1Th. 5:18
*John 14:27- Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as
the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let
it be afraid.
2Cor. 1:3- Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
Matt. 28:20- Teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with
you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. KJV