January Snow and Strep Throat

After getting a dump of snow on Wednesday, Mom remarked to me, "Imagine how different this would be if this was the first snow of the fall." Indeed. In our mindset, there's something simply not as nice about January snow. We want snow for Christmas, but by New Year's we're ready for spring. January snow (though better than March snow) seems a little colder and a little grayer and rather messier than pre-Christmas snow.

This is also the time of year for sickness. It's rippling in various shades through our church's Kids Club and Travis is sick with strep throat at home. Sore throats and raspy coughs seem to go hand-in-hand with the winter weather.

January snow. Strep throat. Cold. Aches. Tiredness.

January is many people's least favourite month, simply because it seems the most "downer" of the others. The coldest, the longest, the slowest, the sleepiest. But don't be discouraged! Spring is coming. But spring is not our hope. The thought of an intangible change in weather and more tangible bloom of blossoms can't carry us through. Keep Calm and Carry On. I don't think so. A hope that transcends weather and sickness and pithy sayings is what we need.

And for followers of Christ, we have it. We have the hope of His glorious return and the New Heavens and Earth, when the suffering will be gone, and the sickness will be gone. Perhaps the seasons will still be here. But we won't grow tired of them, the snow will not weary us, nor the summer weaken us. There will be no sun burns. Or bug bites. Or hypothermia. There will be only beauty and joy and perfection and basking in the light of the eternal Son.

This hope sustains us - even through January snow and strep throat.