YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE:
North Carolina has suffered an identity crisis- it now thinks that it’s CT!
One of the reasons that I- Gail- moved to southern North Carolina from Connecticut in January of 1998 was to get away from the New England winters; which were comprised of bitterly cold temperatures- reaching only about 20 to 30 degrees during the day, and in the teens at night; with LOTS of snow.
When I first moved here, the little town that I lived in had temperatures in the 60’s during the day, and 40’s at night. WOW!!!
Now THAT is my kind of winter!
My mother moved here from Maryland in January, 2002. One of the reasons that she decided to retire here was because of our mild winters. But only 10 short months later, on Dec 7, 2002, she woke up to almost 12 inches of “global warming” on the ground!
So what is going on? The last few winters here in the south have been unreal. Bitter, cold New England temperatures and snow, snow, snow.
Last week I checked the temperature on the weather channel and it was actually TWO DEGREES WARMER where I used to live in CT than it was here at the same time! WHAT??!!
We live in a trailer park (now politically correctly called a “Mobile Home Park”, excuse me!) which is situated up on top of a steep hill; and which does not usually get plowed in the winter.
We got hammered with snow overnight- and now have almost 6 inches on the ground.
We DID notice that someone plowed it this morning, however, and we were thrilled on behalf of those who live up here and have to get out for work. But our joy turned to sadness when the snow turned to sleet and freezing rain by afternoon- and the hill turned into a solid sheet of ice!
So we have now canceled all of our plans for the next few days- including a visit to a jail about 30 miles from here and a Bible study in a nursing home in a nearby town. The roads are treacherous and the North Carolina Dept of Transportation (NCDOT) is warning people to stay off the roads unless it’s an emergency.
NOTE: WE HEED ALL SUCH NCDOT WARNINGS!
So we are ‘grounded’ until maybe spring- only kidding- but definitely until the snow melts. (Last year we didn’t leave the hill for 2 or 3 weeks at a time in bad weather.)
And the forecast is calling for temperatures in the single digits at night all week; and only in the 20’s during the day.
(As I sit here writing this, it is 24 degrees here; and 22 in CT where I used to live!)
ONLY TWO DEGREES DIFFERENCE!!!!
But the REAL difference between North Carolina and CT is that the people in CT are used to these temperatures and are better prepared for the snow and freezing cold than we in the south are. (I didn’t live in the south for very long before I considered myself to be “one of them”- that is, a southerner. All of my northern roots flew out the window in a hurry, as I settled into my new “land”. In other words- “I love it here”!)
Then the cold winters hit.
In CT I lived in a nice, big, warm house with oil heat, a kerosene heater and a woodstove. And HEAVY insulation. And double- paned windows.
But here, I live in a little, house trailer- oops, excuse me, I forgot to be politically correct- “mobile home”- which is old and drafty. It has very little (or so it seems anyway) insulation, and windows that we have to leave covered with plastic year round to keep the wind out. (It is so windy here at times that the curtains and mini-blinds on the inside of the windows blow in with the plastic!)
It is so cold outside here lately that our 24 yr-old heat pump runs almost constantly, but the temperature inside won’t get above 67 or 68 degrees.
BRRRRR!!!
Well- if it sounds like I am complaining about my living conditions, please forgive me. I am not complaining at all- in fact, in my heart I feel just the opposite.
I am grateful.
I am grateful that I have a roof over my head and I am not homeless.
I am grateful that I have a warm bed to sleep in at night.
I am grateful that I have warm clothing to wear.
I am grateful that I can have a cup of hot tea if I am cold.
I am grateful that I have a blanket/robe sort of thingy which I can wrap up in (if I am cold) while I am at the computer.
I am grateful that I don’t have to get up and go to work at 6:00 am in 13 degree weather!
I am grateful that I can cancel my plans when the weather is bad.
I am grateful that I have electricity; and running water; and a hot shower- and FOOD to eat.
BUT MOST OF ALL I AM GRATEFUL THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE LORD AND SAVIOR OF MY LIFE! Without Him I just don’t know what I would do.
And my husband echoes my sentiments exactly.
There are too many people who spend their time complaining about what they don’t have, and not enough time being appreciative for what they DO have!
Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
Please notice that Paul stated that he had “learned” to be content, or satisfied, “in whatsoever state” he was in- meaning no matter what he was going through at the time. He had learned to be content with what he had by suffering a lot of things; and by going without food, shelter and clothing on more than one occasion.
He described just a few of his sufferings in:
2 Corinthians 11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
“Watchings”- means to stay awake during the night and keep an eye out for robbers.
“Fastings”- means going without food.
None of us today have to suffer half as much as Jesus’ disciples did. Yet, we seem to complain about the most ridiculous things, namely things that we have no control over- like the weather, for example!
Let’s try to remember to be grateful for what we DO have- and to not complain so much about what we DON’T have.
Now- if I could only learn to like this weather…
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (Philippians 4:23)