Meg skiing last year in Red River, New Mexico

This winter has been one of the longest and dreariest ones in Austin, Texas that I’ve ever gone through.  Normal temperatures around this time of year vary from 50-70’s, but this year we have stayed more in the 30-40’s range with lots of days without seeing sunshine.  Eek!!

I did not sign up for this!!!  I’ll take my 100 degree summer days any time!!

Interestingly, my loved ones in the Chicago area and in Tennessee are probably laughing at me at this moment for complaining about these conditions considering they have had to endure much lower temps and lots of snow to boot!

This is where I will remind everyone that our hardships are relative to our individual situations…hee, hee!!

Joking aside, this statement is very true to life.

Each of us have our own cross to bear and most of them look nothing alike.  Comparing our lives to each other only complicates our emotional well-being and sets ourselves up for a huge letdown.

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” Exodus 20:17

The questions I should be asking while suffering the miserable weather are:

1. What should I be doing while I’m enduring this experience?
2. What can I do to help those suffering the same thing?
3. Who needs my help?
4. What can I learn from this experience?
5. How can I put into practice what I’ve learned?

I was recently taught in a Bible Study that when life is hard, we are to look beyond ourselves and be life-givers to others!

What a legacy of living like Christ would we have if we would actually follow His wisdom!  Sigh.

We sure make it pretty hard on ourselves by refusing to trust that God has our best interests at heart and that we have a perfect eternity ahead of us!!

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.  John 5:24

Unfortunately, we often get off track by thinking our current situation is the end-all-be-all.

The same Bible Study I mentioned above (which is awesome by the way) referred to difficult situations as an opportunity to show off our faith and that God didn’t put us on Earth without a toolbox with the means to get us through anything we face.

Our tools include a strong faith, prayer and relying on God.

Are you using your tools to get through life?

Some Wisdom for Today:  Proverbs 28:22 – A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.