The huge snowstorm and the strong, gusty winds made for the fourth day in a row of being home-bound. Then there was hope! The snow plow went through our subdivision. I was also able to finally shovel enough snow out of the driveway to briefly make it into town to get some groceries and hurry back home. By the time I returned (in less than two hours) most of the road was already drifted shut again. I couldn’t make it back up the lane to our house so I had to carry the groceries through the drifting snow nearly a tenth of a mile.
I will admit that my attitude was a little less than stellar at that point. It seems that I have shoveled more snow in a week than I have in a lifetime. The worst part is that I still don’t have the ability to get in and out of our subdivision safely. As the saying goes, “The harder I work, the behinder I get.” Mother Nature certainly maintained the upper hand in recent days, and quite frankly, I had enough.
After resting my aching body, it occurred to me that I should be grateful that I have the health and strength to shovel snow. There was a time in life when I did not possess the good health and vitality to execute such tasks. I felt it necessary to remind myself today that every breath I take and every beat of my heart is a gift from God. To know that God loves me enough to give me the gift of life fills me with great hope. It doesn’t make me want to shovel snow; but it does fill me with hope.
Today, let us keep in prayer all those still recovering from the bombing in Boston, those recovering from the explosion at the fertilizer plant in Texas, and all those in hospitals, nursing homes, and those under the care of hospice. May the grace and healing of Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.