Snow Day

I woke up this morning happy and relaxed; today is my day off. I was looking forward to my hair appointment and my adjustment at the chiropractor's office later. My physical self is like the van I take for granted in the garage. My husband has to take it (the van, I mean, not me!) in for a tune-up at the shop every now and then. Today I was in need of a physical tune-up.

Then I opened the curtains and looked outside.

Not again!!

The roads were covered in a blanket of snow and ice. Aren't we only two weeks away from spring? As far as I'm concerned, snow should be allowed no later than February.

My whole day was shot; my plans flew out the icy window.

Here's the problem. I've been reading a new book lately: Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. In chapter 5 she told the story of a church group from North Carolina taking a mission trip to the Caribbean. Here is a portion of the story:

"During this particular ministry trip, their host took them to visit a leper colony on the island of Tobago. And while there, they held a worship service in the campus chapel . . .

When the pastor announced, 'We have time for one more hymn. Does anyone have a favorite?' he noticed a lone patient seated awkwardly on the back row, facing away from the front. At this final call for hymn requests, with great effort, the woman slowly turned her body in the pastor's direction.

'Body' would perhaps be a generous description of what remained of hers. No nose. No lips. Just bare teeth, askew within a chalky skull. She raised her bony nub of an arm (no hand) to see if she might be called on to appeal for her favorite song to be sung. Her teeth moved to the croaky rhythm of her voice as she said, 'Could we sing, "Count Your Many Blessings"?'"

I am undone.

Was I just feeling sorry for myself that I have to wait two more weeks to get my hair done? Was I just griping about not getting adjusted today?

I am so grateful to the person who suggested I read this book. I WANT to choose gratitude, rather than whining and complaining. I WANT my knee-jerk reaction to life's disappointments (big and small) to be gratitude to God. Everything is a gift from Him.

I thought all of you might like to know about the book, too (if you don't already). It's tearing me up, in all the best ways.

So, if you'll excuse me . . . I'll be counting my many blessings, naming them one by one for the rest of this snowy day.