It’s growing colder here in the Mid-Atlantic states. We’ve had several weeks of very brisk and breezy weather. The northern portion of our area has already received a good amount of snow. The little squirrel who lives in our oak tree has already had enough of the early winter. He left his cozy nest of leaves one day to escape the pelting rain. An old bird house, remodeled by the incisors of several generations of squirrels, was the perfect shelter in the wintry rainstorm.

Feeling at a loss today as I wrote a post that I hoped would be uplifting on the Sabbath day, I said to my husband, “Think of something inspirational I can say in my blog post.” He didn’t even think about the request. After spending hours raking up many piles of fallen leaves, he said, “Finally the last of the leaves!”

In a lifetime, we go through many seasons. Some enjoyable, some not so much, but like the little squirrel, we all need to find a place of solace and comfort in the storms. I like these wise words of Charles Spurgeon on where to turn when life drenches you in the freezing rain of earthly trials and tribulations.

“You may readily judge whether you are a child of God or a hypocrite by seeing in what direction your soul turns in seasons of severe trial. The hypocrite flies to the world and finds a sort of comfort there. But the child of God runs to his Father and expects consolation only from the Lord’s hand.” ~ Charles H. Spurgeon

May you find joy on this Sabbath day, but if it is one of those drear times that drench your spirit in trouble and trials, find solace in the shelter of the Heavenly Father’s love.