Winter has to be one of the most difficult seasons for me. In the past I have become so depressed that I would just shut everyone out. This winter, I have done quite a bit better, but occasionally I will feel depression trying to creep in. This is also the time I find myself picking up my bible or other books that draw me nearer to God. So instead of being hard on myself about this, I choose to take this time to heal and restore!
Then, I thought about the scripture, Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8, that says, “To everything there is a season.”
1 To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
I need to realize that winter is my season to heal, to restore that which has been lost, and to allow some of my traits to die, so that there will be room for the ones that are more loving, accepting, and forgiving, to be born. When I harbor bitterness, anger, and hatred in my heart, there is no room for what is good and what is good is not really seen because people see the ugliness and are blinded by that.
I was not created to be mean, judgmental, or self-righteous. I was created in His image. I was created to love.
This brings another verse to mind: 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
So today I will focus on why I was created and how I was created. I will not worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34 – therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.) I will put my faith in God and pray that I will be a new creation in Him, not just today, but every day. I hope to live everyday as if I was just introduced to life, but, without forgetting what God has shown me, and I pray that the good will outweigh the bad.
jackie8263 