A Love For Home

My people will live in a peaceful place, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

“Oh, wow. Minnesota,” the woman said with a laugh. “Brr. Cold.”

Sitting in the heat of Hawaii, I couldn’t help but smile with bemusement. We had just finished a tour of a local coffee farm and were now enjoying a tasting, and even though it wasn’t yet noon, it was already sweltering. As we chatted, the farm employee had asked where we were visiting from. Hearing my answer, she couldn’t contain a slight grimace.

“You know,” I said, feeling thoughtful. “I don’t mind it. Curling up with a book in front of a fire on a cold winter’s day is pretty cozy.”

It was almost the end of our week on the island, and although I had enjoyed it immensely—the shimmering ocean, the lush plants and trees, the warm rain—there were things I didn’t like as much. Cockroaches, for one. Though we Northerners like to complain about the cold temperatures, the truth is that there are critters we never have to deal with, thanks to our chilly climate. I also appreciate having four distinct seasons: pulling out scarves for autumn’s cooler temperatures and watching the brilliant leaves fall, seeing the sparkle of snow in the winter, watching spring rains turn the grass to green, and soaking up every last bit of summer’s warmth.

There are often good and bad things to every circumstance, including where we live. Every location has its own unique beauty, and the flora and fauna surrounding us serve as reminders of the grandeur of creation and the artistry of our God. And, if we live in a peaceful, secure location—free from the fear of famine or war—that freedom isn’t something to take for granted. Instead, it’s something to be grateful for each day, no matter how warm or cold the climate is. When we choose to find the beauty in where we live, we can let go of comparison or discontentment and enjoy the place we call home.

Kristin

Today’s Act of Gratitude

List five things you like about where you live.