February 2, 2024
As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day, and night. ~ Genesis 8:22 NLT
Last night, during the call with the granddaughters, almost seven-year-old Marie-Hélène asked me what I thought the ground hog would do, see his shadow and therefore six more weeks of winter, or not see his shadow and therefore spring is just around the corner. I said I thought he’d see his shadow. “Nana, why did you say that?” she asked. I didn’t have a good answer, aside from experience. She assured me that the ground hog will not see his shadow and spring is just around the corner; because her first-grade class voted, and an early spring won. Perhaps the vote of first graders at Holy Trinity Episcopal school has a better track record than Punxsutawney Phil.
After spending ten days in Hawaii after Christmas, it was hard to come home to freezing temperatures and snow shoveling. It was even harder for my husband, who grew up in Southern California and has never adjusted physically or emotionally to winter. When the thermometer dips into the 50’s he’s ready for the flannel sheets. I’m at the age where I am almost ready to agree with him.
Landing back in frigid weather less than 24 hours after leaving paradise, a change of perspective was in order. I decided to embrace each day of winter as one day closer to spring. That change of perspective has made the really cold days a bit less chilling to my psyche. And since God, not me, is in charge of the change of seasons, it has helped me let go of the frustration of something I cannot change.
Happy Ground Hog one-day-closer to spring day! ~ Anne
Wayfinding 