It’s been a long cold winter in Sweden and I can honestly say that I am longing for warmer weather. I never thought I would say this but I’m tired of seeing the dull and grey winter landscape with its bare trees and lifeless brown leaves covering the ground. I long to see the first wildflowers (like our traditional “Vitsippa”) start to pop up all over Stockholm and to watch the forests turn green again.
Yet even as I look forward to spring and eventually summer (my favorite season) I cannot help reflect upon the words of King Solomon when he writes: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven”.
If you’re like me, you probably convince yourself that “When a certain thing happens, then I will . . . or, If a certain person contacts me, then I will. . . or, I will be happy if . . . or, I will be satisfied when . . .”
I believe Solomon is trying to teach us a valuable lesson that in our longing for some future good thing, we forget that every day – regardless of the weather or our circumstances – is a precious gift from God.
That in every season - whether it be winter, spring, summer or autumn - there is always a reason for us to be thankful and an opportunity for us to make a difference in somebody´s life. Every season gives us a reason to thank God for His love and mercy (Eccl 3:12).
Challenge:
At the beginning of every new day ask God to help you find something to be thankful about and to do some good in the life of another person.