Once again I am driven by the cold wind to my laptop keyboard.  There’s hardly a discomfort that can’t be improved upon by a cup of coffee and a candle. My picks for today are Green Mountain Signature Blend and a Beehive Pot of Sugared Citron by Aspen Bay Candles. For December, January, February, and even the first part of March, I, like most of you, can gaze upon the glossy white of winter and find beauty and blessing in the frozen stillness of a winter snow. But this is April 7! The free-falling stuff  we awoke to this morning was just not what I wanted to see.

Worse than the white spread over tree blossoms, was the 28 to 32 degree temps of early morning. My first 7 AM thought was of the wheat crops, and for many farmers this late freeze will not be good news. My next thought was of intense gratitude for our daughter’s safe arrival to her home shortly before 2AM, after her Dallas flight had a three-hour delay. Last night I’d closed the front door on a driving north wind with a prayer that God would deliver her safely home, and He did. He no doubt heard my heart thinking, “I won’t even pray for the wheat crop because defending my girl is so much more important”.  So, as much as I wanted to complain this morning about the weather, it was overridden by the blessings of a warm home, happy hearts, and good health.

As I took Auggie out for a walk near noon, that north wind was still at work. Try as it did to remove my cloak of gratitude, I just pulled it more snuggly around me, as I also did with my fleese-lined coat. That reminded me of the childhood fable of the sun and the wind competing to see who would cause the traveler to remove his coat. Of course, the sun won. Like the warmth of the sun, which gave the traveler freedom to remove his heavy overcoat, the sword of the Spirit defends us against the drive of evil, that we may stand; (Ephesians 6:13, 17) and provides the freedom to remove an overcoat of fear, guilt and regret. Such a laden coat may hide our joyful cloak of gratitude.

In our north wind, Auggie and I walk briskly in the exposures between the large evergreens of our fencerow. Then we slow down and enjoy the protection from the wind as we reach the next tree. In a similar way, we enjoy amazing grace and protection in the wind break of our Lord. The elements of life can be pretty cold and fierce, but He beckons us to move in close to Him while we brace for the next wave of ‘whatever’. “How precious is Your lovingkindness, Oh God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.” (Psalm 36:7)

A bit of pulled pork and a jalapeño corn muffin later, I am enjoying the sun through my window. Mercifully, it has cut its way through the cold and cloudy sky. Our Redbud tree is glowing and the Yoshino Cherry blossoms seem happy enough dancing in the wind. Our days may be driven by the forces of nature, but our spirits are defended by a loving God whose Holy Spirit directs, and whose arms protect.

“For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.” (Song of Solomon 2: 11-12)