Wise ass me

I am wise and intelligent and beautiful, and anything you can do, I can do better. Ha! That pretty much sums up all the things we *in all truth and honesty* know better never to actually utter, but really do believe about ourselves. Ok, ok, none of you believe that about yourselves. I used to think I was so great, and of all people you could discuss your problems with, I'd give you the best advice. I would actually be really upset and offended if people didn't take my advice, or at least hear me out. No actually, I'm lying here if I say I USED to feel upset when people didn't take my advice. I still do that.
On one such occasion a few years ago, I was dishing out such incredibly wise advice, when my listening friend responded with a "you're such a wise ass" quirp. Those were her actual words. My mouth hung open in utter shock! I'm not a wise ass, I'm just really wise. I was reeling for a while. I just couldn't put her statement together with my reality of what a great individual I was.
As shocked as I was that her response was so brutal, I am eternally grateful for that remark, because that day I learnt not to be so obvious about being more intelligent than everyone else.
And then, by God's grace, He allowed me to grow older, and would you know it, wiser! And behold, one day I looked back upon the life I had lived, and discovered, I had learnt something, and by some miracle it appears, I was wiser now than I had been then. Oh the shame! How stupid had I been then? The issue with how stupid I was back then, is that I had believed the opposite.
Then I realized, that I was possibly only about a third of the way through my life experience, and probably would be learning other little nuggets of wisdom in time to come. Whoops. I actually know quite little then, don't I.
Yet, in spite of the perspective I've gained, I'm alarmed at the number of times I still find myself rolling my eyes while thinking I know better than someone, whose uncomfortable shoes I've never even set food in. Oh the pride of it!
The reality is that without Christ, I am nothing! And when I think I am it, then I have shoved Jesus very firmly out of my picture, meaning that when I think I'm great, I'm nothing. When I know it's Christ in me the hope of glory, then I walk in favor and authority.
That is when I am so incredibly grateful for God's mercy and grace. If God hadn't gently taught me, and allowed me to make mistakes and learn from them, I would still be in that place where I am a nothing who thinks I'm everything. Ironic.

Things I love about winter

• Snuggling
• Cosy bed at night
• Fire in the fire place, love that!
• Cups of tea - warm me up, not overheat me
• Hot drinks like milo, horlicks, hot chocolate

But the best thing about winter, by far, is that spring is back in less than 4 months, because really I hate winter. I tried really hard putting it mildly. I also really tried putting a positive spin on things, (see list above). But really, if I was being truly honest, I'd be throwing a winter tantrum right now. I really don't like winter, and I've been putting it mildly right here. Honest would be screaming like a banshee.
You see, I like drinking my tea piping hot. Piping, piping hot. In winter I have a few split seconds to get this right, thus, I have to gulp it down, or risk drinking only half a cup before it's too cold (by my fussy standards)
Also, I'm lazy. Taking the time to put lotion on my super dry winter skin, does not suit me very well, I'd rather be getting dressed so I can try my hardest to escape the cold. It also means I'm cold that much longer.
The most obvious part of not loving winter, is that I do not enjoy the cold. Added to that, I really feel the cold. I'm wearing a jersey when most people are happy in a bikini. So I spend my winters in many, many layers. This really restricts movement. I feel like the Michelin Man most of winter, and then I'm most often STILL cold.
My nose is permanently running in winter. Especially when I'm out running - spot the pun! I have to run with tissues in hand. This is not because I've caught a cold, it's just because it's cold out. And then, my nostrils really begin to burn, because they are permanently moist. In David's words, "not cool, Mama, not cool!"
The skin on my face, especially around my eyes, is so tight. It stings when I apply cream on it.

As you can see, this post is not written in Christianese. I wrote in all honesty.
However, God created winter.
We need winter. Not everything in life suits us well. We don't always love where God places us.  But in winter I really love the sun that I hide from in summer. We learn to love and appreciate the things we'd otherwise never think about or take for granted.
In winter, what we can see dies back and looks ugly. But, what we can't see, gets established and grows stronger. In winter, the branches and leaves get no attention, but the roots grow deep, thick and strong. So that, when spring comes again - yay - the new, fresh leaves are even more beautiful than last summer.

This winter, I will choose to focus on my character. Establish me God, so that I can flourish for your glory in my spring