by Emma K. Jones

Created on: February 01, 2009

The Two Sides of Everything

The recap of the week is on the morning news. Snow and lots of it, has been the big newsmaker of the week. Winter's brutal forces have wreaked havoc on much of the mid-west. Ice and wind has downed power lines and forced several thousand people in to shelters. A foot of snow has paralyzed many cities and shut down schools and businesses. Frigid cold temperatures keep children indoors rather than outside making snowmen and riding on their sleds in spite of their temporary sabbatical from school. Weary citizens are ready for spring.

I sit at the table, facing my sliding glass doors and the sun is just starting to rise. Within minutes, God's glorious canvas is revealed. Pure white crystals coat the trees along the river's edge. A perfect blanket of snow covers the back yard. Untouched by human influences. Several fat cardinals flit from tree to tree, the males flaunting their crimson red coats. A beautiful sight against the white snow. A few brave ducks float in the river, letting their bodies drift with the river current. A lone, proud blue heron struts from rock to rock cocking his head from side to side. It is the best production ever made.

Two sides to every story. On one side of the story, winter's deadly grip on the state and on the other side, the perfect, picturesque view of the winter morning.

I think a lot about how life in general give two sides. I can chose to view my troubles as hardships and become defeated or I can talk with God and trust the he can show me the other viewpoint. Recent trouble, resulting in my daughter's four-month stay at a rehabilitation facility, had the ability to take me down with no mercy. But God's love stayed true and in my pain, I learned how to lean on him closer and with deeper appreciation. An unwanted divorce gave my heartache new wings to try new things and meet new friends. Stress at my job and health problems, forced me to hang on to relaxation and I learned to enjoy my grandchildren with childlike zest. Money troubles have helped me follow a budget and to respect my earned freedom from credit cards.

I thank God for the two sides of the story that he has given me. Although life is not always easy, having faith to see the whole picture adds comfort and rest to my mind. We may never know the many ways that he has intervened without us knowing it, but we can be sure that he is our protector and knows what lie ahead. How gracious he is with his mercy and so eager to take care of us.

How lucky I am to be able to see the two sides of winter.

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