Two words - cabin fever. Yup. It has officially set in.
My son keeps looking out onto the deck and asking to go play outside. I can't blame him. I keep finding myself gazing out the kitchen window at the blue skies and warm sun. Then I look at the outdoor temperature, in my mind hoping that it will miraculously say it's in the 60s. Yeah... that hasn't happened yet. When it's warm outside, it's all I can do to keep my boy in the house until 9:30 am (sometimes I let him out earlier...). He's clearly an outdoors kid. Now here we are in February, there's no snow on the ground (which is no different from the rest of the winter), appears to be beautiful outside, and it's still in the 30s (if that). Oh, and might I add, Punxsutaney Phil saw his shadow. I don't put any stock in Groundhog Day, but still... it's a downer.
Yes, I'm complaining. And for those of you fellow New Englanders who may argue that we've had a few seasonably warm days lately, you're right. Unfortunately those few hours that the temperature dares to climb into the 40s (or higher) happen to be lunch and nap time here in toddlerland. Yet another downer.
What can be done about cabin fever?
"Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord all the earth."
Psalm 96:1
This is a psalm that I have heard referenced several times over the last month, and it's what came to mind this morning during another late-morning toddler tantrum. I find myself blaming the weather for my son's outbursts. If only I could send him outside... he'd be a different person, much easier for me to handle! The weather is only partly to blame. Sin nature is the other part - both mine and my son's.
So guess what? It's time to start singing a new song. It's time to change things up again. Where do I look for inspiration? None other than Pinterest. Oh yes, my friends. If you haven't joined, just do it. Here are some ideas I've come across that I'm hoping will help change the tune at our house.
Definitely more time consuming initially, but I'm pretty sure my husband would have as much fun with this as my son!
Just a few ideas that we may be trying soon! Whether you have a toddler or not, how are you going to "sing to the Lord a new song"? Open the door long enough to let the grouchies out (and still keep the heat in) and rejoice in the Lord with each new day.
I am not a “Type A” personality.My husband can vouch for this, but to prove it to myself, I went and took an online test to have some more substantial evidence.I say all of this and yet, I do have some “Type A” tendencies (which I mostly blame my husband for since I don’t recall having these characteristics before meeting him).Although I do not feel the need to have a strict schedule that I uphold, I thrive on routine and consistency.As much as I may work at keeping my family and household on a steady rhythm of grocery shopping, Bible study, nap times, meal preparation, cleaning up, organizing, and bed times, we live in an ever-changing world of inconsistencies and foul-ups – in other words… sin.
This week, I had the chance to go visit with some friends that are very near and dear to my heart.They were a major part of my life for almost 3 years when I was a newlywed and rookie teacher.Although we don’t live all that far away from each other, we don’t see one another on a regular basis.So, I cherish the times we have together.On this recent visit with a friend who is battling serious difficulties with his health, my mind reflected back on those early days of teaching: bulletin boards, teacher’s meetings, and parent/teacher conferences.I also thought about the highs and lows of Andy’s seminary days.
On my drive home (with a sleeping toddler in the back seat) I was considering some of the different seasons of my life and was amazed that with each one I had a vivid memory of a great blessing or accomplishment along with a memory of a particular hardship I had gone through:
I had perfect attendance in Kindergarten (the only year I ever accomplished this), and it was immediately followed (approximately a week after school let out) with coming down with the chicken pox – which I kindly passed on to my sister. J
At 16, I said a final good-bye to my grandfather after a long battle with cancer, and about 3 days later I passed my driver’s test and received my license.
Before leaving for my first year of college, a great uncle that I was very close to offered to significantly help me with the remainder of my tuition costs – and did.Several months later (before I completed that school year), he passed away.
Less than 2 months away from giving birth to my son, the principal of the school I was teaching at (and my co-teacher in the middle school) was diagnosed with cancer and went through surgery 2 weeks before we welcomed our little one to our life.
After graduating from seminary, my husband was called as pastor at the church we are now at (a huge blessing!).A month later our closest friends moved a long distance away from us.
On the day that very good friends of ours had their first child, my husband’s grandmother passed away.
As I recalled these moments of my life, my mind immediately went to that well-known passage of Scripture in Ecclesiastes:
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
What do workers gain from their toil?I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has
made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom
what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be
happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all
their toil—this is the gift of God.I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be
added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.“
Ecclesiastes 3:1-14
So many moments like these come to mind - each with a varying level of seriousness to it.Thankfully, I can look back on several of them and even laugh a little at the circumstances that took place.
I will be turning 27 years old in August, so I can’t say that I’ve had a ton of “seasons” in my life yet.Thankfully, I can also say that God has protected me and my family from major tragedy.He has been good to me and my family… more than I deserve.
I could, however, look at each of these situations in my life and react in fear (What’s going to happen next?).Or I can look at these portions of my life and see hope.This is more than just the proverbial “silver-lining” that all of the optimists of the world demand we search for.God is our hope and peace in the midst of life’s storms, the one who we should “take refuge in” as Psalm 34 states.
So what have I learned in my 27 years of life’s ups and downs – in the midst of love and loss, sickness and health, life and death?
Despite my own attempts to create routine in my life, we live in a world of chaos.God is attributed with order, peace, and perfection.My hope is in Him.
God always keeps his promises.He’s the definition of consistency.Scripture is full of God’s promises to “never leave (me) nor forsake (me)” (Deut. 31:6, Josh. 1:5, Heb. 13:5 – just to name a few).
My response should always be the same: faith, hope, and love.My faith is in God, my holy and loving creator.My hope is in Jesus Christ, the perfect substitute for my sin, who fulfilled God’s standard perfectly – something I could never do.My response of repentance and faith should be lived out in love for God and others – despite my own circumstances.
Good things and bad things are going to happen in life – that’s the way it’s been, and that’s the way it’s going to be.God is above all things.He’s there when we struggle and when we celebrate.God is still God, no matter what takes place around me or to me.I’m forever grateful for all that God has done in my life and I don’t dread the days ahead, but rather eagerly await all that He will be teaching me about himself.
“Praise the LORD, you his servants;
praise the name of the LORD.
Let the name of the LORD be praised,
both now and forevermore.
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.
The LORD is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.
Who is like the LORD our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,
who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes,
with the princes of his people.
He settles the childless woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
