Snow Days

Snow covers the ground here in southern Virginia. The sun is out, there’s not a cloud in the sky, and the scene is absolutely beautiful. School is out, and my family is home. We’re safe, we’re warm, we’re dry, and we have full stomachs. We’ve been at home since we came home from worship Sunday evening (I did drive about 25 MPH all the way home because the road was absolutely white and the snow was coming down fast!). Sixty hours or so is a long time to be together without leaving home (although we haven’t been snowed in nearly as long as the Torrances were at the Overlook Hotel). What can you do when you’re snowed in with no place to go? Well, here are some ideas:

• Watch television together. Yes, there is a lot of pure garbage on TV today, but there is also healthy programming. Consider sitting down to family-friendly programming; you can visit Common Sense Media for ideas, and, as always, my brother Phil Sanders does a fine job on In Search of the Lord’s Way.
• Remember your blessings. It’s always right to give thanks to God (Col 2:6-7). If you’re anything like I am, you have a great for which to give thanks to God: a full belly, a warm bed, a loving family, a dry head – as you know, I’ve barely scratched the surface.
• Spend time in prayer. The Lord Jesus spent a great deal of time in prayer (e.g., Lk 6:12). What better time to spend time in prayer than when you get to slow down because the weather forces you inside?
• Call to check on your neighbors. Take the time to pick up the phone and make sure that your neighbors are okay. Do they have heat? Do they need to get out? Do they need special prayer?
• Serve your neighbors. Shovel a driveway for a widow. Make sure the elderly neighbor doesn’t need some vegetable soup or a ride to the doctor. Open your home to someone without heat.
• Study Scripture. Study like the Bereans, examining the Scriptures daily to increase your faith (Acts 17:11). Scripture will help your faith to grow (Rom 10:17). Don’t waste time at home; spend time building your faith and drawing closer to your Father in heaven.
• Spend time together as a family. You’re in the same house and you’re not going anywhere soon – why not put down the iPhones and the tablets, turn off the TV, put down the book, and spend time together? Put together a puzzle. Share your dreams and aspirations. Pray together. Play games together. Show one another that you value one another.
• Catch up on your hobbies. I run, run, run through the week – I honestly think that I’m busier now than I ever was when I worked full-time: I have more appointments with various doctors than I wish; I swim about two hours a day; and between writing my blog and writing my books, I spend a great deal of time with my legs elevated with a computer in my lap. Snow days when I can’t get to the doctor (I had two appointments today, but they were both cancelled) or when I can’t get to the gym (I should get there this afternoon) give me time to catch up on reading or watching the History Channel. My hobbies add more balance to my life.

I’m grateful for snow days. What can you do on snow days?

Until tomorrow, be blessed!