Day 15 of 31: The Elephant in the room

Okay,

It's time.

I've got to address something that typically chaps my ascot.

It happens every year.

No, wait.

It happens twice a year.

I gotta come clean.

I used to be a "glass half empty" type of person

when it comes to ND winter months.

That's putting it nicely.

I loathed winter like the grinch on Christmas.

My friggen glass was empty, and the waiter wouldn't be coming 'round for months.

Woa. was. me.

It wasn't until I learned how to surrender

to the good Lord's plans

for my life

that He helped me find Joy in the winter.

Joy in the dark days, when the sun sets before supper.

Joy in the cold.

Joy in the snow.

I used to see the darkness and cold as isolating.

I now find rest and peace in this season, EVEN when

the winter-is-long and the snow-is-deep.

I feel thankful for all the things I used to take for granted.

A warm house,

homecooked meals, even though I'm the one making them,

a family around the table,

the moisture from the snow,

and the shorter days.

You see, as a ranching family, working "sun up to sun down"

in January is

different from July.

Mind you, we tend to calve and lamb in May, not March.

Now listen here, I'm not saying calving, lambing, or kidding in February or March is wrong. Ya hear me?

I'm saying it's a choice.

So if you are CHOOSING it, then COMPLAIN about it...that's a conversation to be had between you and the good Lord.

Victim mentality is a choice.

Which brings me back to Joy (or lack thereof) and happiness (or lack thereof)...

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." -Declaration of Independence

The pursuit of happiness.

Happiness is a pursuit.

It's also a feeling.

Feelings don't last.

So if you aren't feeling happy in this moment. That's okay. You can pursue it when

you are ready.

I have learned, and continue to learn

that my feeling and pursuit of happiness

comes and it goes.

All feelings come

and

they go.

But my Joy.

My Joy comes from the Lord.

And it lasts.

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." -Jesus (in John 15:11)

Click here for 241 more "JOY" references.

Why am I sharing this with you?

Because maybe you,

like me,

have looked for

Joy

the

wrong places.

And you've come up empty.

Your cup

is empty

or maybe just half full

and either way,

you are unable to fill it up on your own.

Let's get you some true Joy.

Now then,

We still haven't addressed the elephant in my room.

The elephant that comes knockin down my door

twice a year.

Daylight Savings

start

and end.

Will somebody please let me know what we are actually saving here?

I am committed to doing my due diligence with this challenge.

So instead of getting my panties in a bunch, LIKE I USUALLY DO

over the savin' o' the daylight

(or lack thereof)

I am working to:

STOP myself from complaining about which I do not understand.
SHIFT my focus.
SEEK the author of my Joy.

If the good Lord can help me find Joy in the winter days, He can help me find peace elsewhere.

Lord,

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

courage to change the things I can,

and wisdom to know the difference

- Reinhold Niebuhr

Alright, now tell me.

What do you see?

The beast?

Or the beauty?

The red?

Or the blue?

Is this coffee cup

half empty?

Or half full?

And just for fun....

See you tomorrow, friends.

I have coffee.

and tea.

And I know where to find Joy.

DAY 16

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Day 15 of 31: The Elephant in the room

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