Tuesday, February 2, 2021 Challenge for Today

This morning we live in a fairy tale world with frost coating trees and weeds with beauty.
From day to day our needs change. One day we may need encouragement to ‘Keep on keeping on’ as they say, or on another day we may want to share our joy with others. On days when we are struggling a sorrow shared is a sorrow halved. On joyful days, joy shared is joy increased.
One story that has stuck with me through the years is one of the Brothers Grimm stories. It isn’t necessarily original with them, but it is known as ‘The Twelve Dancing Princesses’.
We live in a part of the country that has definite seasons. That is one of the reasons I love it here. Some people fuss because of the snow and cold weather, and we do have both of those events.
However snow and cold weather don’t last forever and…here is the story link. The above picture is more than what we have today, but there is nothing quite like the beauty of frost and glittering snow that envelope a landscape in its icy shimmering elegance.
The story of the princesses goes something like: the princesses were locked in their room at night (they all slept in one room), but in the morning their shoes were all worn out. And the king offers a reward as to who can find out the how and why of it.
In the story there is an underground lake surrounded by golden and silver and diamond landscape that shimmers in the light of the torches. This of course reminds me of waking up to a landscape of sparkling diamonds that glitter in the sunlight. Or it could sparkle in the moonlight…
And no matter how old I become I’ve never stopped wondering at the beauty of the world created by God. We truly live in an amazing world.
Romans 15:
13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Psalms 9:
9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
Romans 8:
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.