Life moves so fast. Although, in reality, you’re responsible for the pace of your life, sometimes if feels like you have no control whatsoever over some moments that just fly right by you. When you’re a kid you look forward to everything. Growing up just can’t come soon enough and in the meantime you are counting down the days until birthdays, holidays, summer vacation, Christmas, and snow days! When I was I kid I loved the snow. I remember praying before I went to bed that it would snow so much overnight that I couldn’t see out my window the next morning. There was nothing better than waking up to my Mom saying “School’s been cancelled, go back to sleep”. I hated school, snow just meant I didn’t have to make up my own excuse not to go. It was exciting to see what the day would bring. I looked forward to adventures outside in the snow with my sisters, building igloos and tunnels to play in for hours. We didn’t have a care in the world…
Today, all grown up, I still count down the days to birthdays, holidays, and vacations. The trouble is, while I am looking forward to them, I’m also stressing out about that fact that I’m always completely unprepared for them. There’s always something left to be done when there’s just no time left to do it. There’s so much going on in most people’s day-to-day lives that they barely have time to think of all the things they need to do, much less actually do them. Do we slow down often enough to remember what really matters and enjoy life as we’re meant to?
These days I still pray for snow. I don’t want to play in the snow, that’s actually the very last thing I want to do. My classes rarely get cancelled and getting out of work just isn’t going to happen. I don’t particularly enjoy being cold or having to force our dog, Bentley, to go outside because he hates to get his feet wet. These days I pray for snow because it’s almost like a not-so-subtle message from God to take a break. Think about the last time there was such a terrible snow storm that most business closed, schools closed, even businesses that stay open 365 days a year were forced to close their doors and go home. What is it all for, the hustle and bustle of our daily lives? Notice how the world didn’t come to an end when we all had to slow down? Notice that the truly important things still remained?
This winter I hope you snow haters will look at things a little differently. Maybe it takes you twice or three times as long to get to work. Maybe…GASP…you’re late for work. So maybe you can’t make it to work at all one day, or even two. Look at it this way, if you’re always complaining about your hectic life, snow gives you an excuse to relax. You can be late, you can cancel appointments, you can spend more time with your kids, your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, your parents, your pets, or even some good quality time with God. This winter, when it snows, I know you’ll slow down. The question is, will you enjoy slowing down or will you spend your time wishing away the opportunity?
