The Mercy of Winter

This week has been an interesting blend of catch-up and slow-down.

I think I felt a little bit of Spring fever this week.

I'm ready for some warm weather...

To get my hands out of the yarn...

 ... and into the earth.

I bought cucumbers and tomatoes this week at the store and longed to just pluck them from my garden.

I found myself looking for signs in the yard that spring is coming...

Where are the daffodils?

The Camellia?

I know its only the 11th of February... but it's that time of year when I long to see an end to cold. I want to feast my senses on the sights, sounds, smells and tangible hopes that come from the thawing of the earth.

Right now, in this resting time, when things are held back in sleep, I must choose to see the Mercy in winter... must plan to remember that... God set the boundaries of the earth, and made both summer and winter. (Psalm 74:17, emphasis mine), for His purpose and glory. 


Currently, its 19 degrees outside. Outside my window it looks like this:

But what rests beneath the dull-brown, seemingly life-less, branches is this:

In the fullness of His grace, we cannot have one without the other.

There is Mercy in winter... so I'll thrown on another scarf, a hat, some mittens...

... and patiently wait for spring.