I think it was the 6th snow day that did me in.
And it’s a good thing the sun is shining and it looks like we’ll have a taste of normal life tomorrow because otherwise I may need to be sent to a padded room where someone brings me my medication and escorts me to group therapy.
It was actually pretty wonderful being with my peeps for so long but we need some routine around here not to mention THE SUN. And also exercise and green leafy vegetables. I mean, no one remembers to stock up on the leafy greens for the snow storm. It’s a good thing I’m doing a detox in March, dear ones.
Also, did I mention ice. Because we had that too. For days.
What I wouldn’t make is a good northerner, despite my love for Alaska The Last Frontier and Little House on the Prairie. I wouldn’t be so bad at snow and cold if I owned a winter coat and some non-Cowboy boots and an ice scraper. But as it stands, I’m worthless in inclement weather. Except in the kitchen. That’s where I shine. Also known as, we’ve had a LOT OF SOUP.
The snow days kind of remind me of Lent. Lent is like the Narnia of the church year. It’s beautiful when you first see everything covered in snow but it’s gets old quick—which you well know if you’re trying to do any sort of Lenten discipline. It’s a long 40 days. The first Sunday in Lent is traditionally Jesus being tempted in the wilderness by Satan. We face our own wilderness, our long winter knowing full well that the worst has already happened and it happened to Jesus. Last year when I was finishing my book, I wrote about the worst year of my life, about the worst failures I had ever known up to that point. I was broken. The sting and shame of those years, the doubts about whether or not I was REALLY forgiven all came rushing in.
The next Sunday I went to Bible class and my pastor was teaching on Jesus’ temptation. He said this:
Jesus is in the wilderness defeating Satan for you. He knows how the Israelites failed so miserably in the wilderness and he knows how you’re failing too. But he didn’t fail. He defeated the enemy of God on your behalf and that’s only the beginning. That was the easy part. The hard part comes later when he goes to a cross and dies for you to defeat sin and death because he knows how enslaved you are, how in prison you are, how you wrestle over and over with the flesh and lose every time. He won’t lose. He will willingly die and there, in His cross, in His death, you will find life and freedom and heaven. You think he can’t forgive you? It’s okay, now you’ll even have to trust Him to give you the faith to believe it because you are forgiven my friends. His word makes faith where there is only doubt and confusion. You are His beloved children and He has gone to EVERY length to rescue you. He’s done everything to bring you home.
And that my friends, is the joy of Lent. Not in what we do or how disciplined we are or how devoted we’re becoming. No, none of that. Lent is about joy—finding our joy and our rest and our peace in Him. NO matter what we’ve done. No matter how we never measure up. No matter how many times we struggle and fail. I pray you will know his love and peace like never before as we go with Him to His cross and find there everything we need.
Also, in this early Spring issue of the newsletter, I wrote about that time I went crazy and lived to tell about it. I’m feeling much better these days but I’ve had some real struggles over the past few months with hormones, depression and in general losing my sanity. I posted it on a private page on my blog so click on over and please don’t share the page with others. I’m sharing it in case others of you might be struggling too and because I’ve found some very awesome natural solutions with Young Living.
(There’s a special offer there for just my newsletter peeps!)
And last but not least, I updated the Grace Page with your new printable and meal plan. Hope it helps you love your people well. THANK you so much for letting me be a small part of your life. It’s a privilege to do this and I pray for you often.
Grace, peace, and all my love,
xoxo
edie