Ha! You thought the title was going to be 'a box of chocolates,' right? Nope, not today. The boxes of chocolates left from the holidays have disappeared and many, many inches of snow have taken their place.
I'm pretty certain everyone is getting sick of looking at pictures and reading about the temperatures and snow accumulations in the Indiana / Illinois section of the country this past week, but this really isn't about how much snow or cold we received; it is about the similarities between my driveway and my life. Perhaps you will recognize some of your life situations, also.
I'm pretty certain everyone is getting sick of looking at pictures and reading about the temperatures and snow accumulations in the Indiana / Illinois section of the country this past week, but this really isn't about how much snow or cold we received; it is about the similarities between my driveway and my life. Perhaps you will recognize some of your life situations, also.
For the most part, my cement drive is always clear and something I rarely think about, unless someone parks there and then I can't get to the garage. My life is relatively clear of obstacles, too, as most of my 'problems' are minor compared to others' lives.
Then comes winter and between the snow and ice and wind, my drive can end up being solidly packed with snow. Due to a neighbor taking a fence down last summer, the space between her house and mine must now be the ultimate wind tunnel for drifting snow. Great.
The first snowfall wasn't too bad, but my grandson decided to just 'plow through' the white stuff instead of shoveling first. Needless to say, that didn't work. How many times in my life have I decided to 'plow through' situations without seeking God's advice or making any preparations? Unfortunately, the answer to that question is, "Way too many." That results in my getting stuck, just like my car did. Instead of taking a few minutes to prepare and then continue on my journey, it took all kinds of effort to become 'unstuck' from the situation so I could get on with life.
Then comes winter and between the snow and ice and wind, my drive can end up being solidly packed with snow. Due to a neighbor taking a fence down last summer, the space between her house and mine must now be the ultimate wind tunnel for drifting snow. Great.
The first snowfall wasn't too bad, but my grandson decided to just 'plow through' the white stuff instead of shoveling first. Needless to say, that didn't work. How many times in my life have I decided to 'plow through' situations without seeking God's advice or making any preparations? Unfortunately, the answer to that question is, "Way too many." That results in my getting stuck, just like my car did. Instead of taking a few minutes to prepare and then continue on my journey, it took all kinds of effort to become 'unstuck' from the situation so I could get on with life.
I have a fairly long and wide drive, so it takes some effort to clean it. It isn't a 20 minute job. I don't own a snow blower, but I do have a 20-year-old grandson. His efforts were hindered by the depth of the snow. When I was helping shovel, I took the top layer off and then the bottom layer, while he scooped the entire depth at one time. Sometimes, I approach a problem in my life, one layer at a time and sometimes, I try to pick up the whole thing at once. I find the latter way to be tiring and exhausting. Also, without Jacob doing 90% of the work, I would be stuck in my garage until the spring thaw. How many times do I try to shovel my way out of a situation by myself? If I ask God for help, it becomes so much clearer and so much easier.
After a problem is solved, I am always grateful but certainly do not expect another 'situation' immediately following.
Jacob was happy to have the entire drive cleaned, have a cup of hot chocolate, and hang up his heavy clothes. Shortly thereafter, we heard the rumble of the snowplow coming down the street. A few days ago, that was a very welcome sound, but now...."No-o-o-o."
Yep, the end of the drive had snow stacked up about 3 feet deep again. After a brief rest, he went back out.
I sometimes find myself fighting my way through the same problems over and over. Perhaps I need to change the way I approach them or at least be thankful the problems become a bit more manageable each time.
Jacob was happy to have the entire drive cleaned, have a cup of hot chocolate, and hang up his heavy clothes. Shortly thereafter, we heard the rumble of the snowplow coming down the street. A few days ago, that was a very welcome sound, but now...."No-o-o-o."
Yep, the end of the drive had snow stacked up about 3 feet deep again. After a brief rest, he went back out.
I sometimes find myself fighting my way through the same problems over and over. Perhaps I need to change the way I approach them or at least be thankful the problems become a bit more manageable each time.
These are some things I hope this analogy is showing me (and you)
#1 We can't always predict what messes we will find in our lives and many times have no more control over them than I had control over the snow that fell.
#2 It is ALWAYS better and more advantageous to ask for God's help in any situation before we decide to get through it in our own way.
#3 Sometimes we need to tackle a problem a layer at a time, instead of one big chunk.
#4 Resting is good and prepares us for the next effort.
#5 Just when we think we 'have it all together' and are finished, circumstances can, and often will, cause us to start over.
#6 God is always there to help and knows the end result of our efforts long before we do.
#1 We can't always predict what messes we will find in our lives and many times have no more control over them than I had control over the snow that fell.
#2 It is ALWAYS better and more advantageous to ask for God's help in any situation before we decide to get through it in our own way.
#3 Sometimes we need to tackle a problem a layer at a time, instead of one big chunk.
#4 Resting is good and prepares us for the next effort.
#5 Just when we think we 'have it all together' and are finished, circumstances can, and often will, cause us to start over.
#6 God is always there to help and knows the end result of our efforts long before we do.