Wintering Well
“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 NKJV
Happy fresh start day! I love how this verse says “we” rather than “I.” Who is the “we” you get to rejoice with today? That’s one simple step to rejoicing and being glad: Do it in community!
Where we live in Illinois, I’m convinced there is no better place to be in the summer! The weather is wonderful, people are eager to gather regularly, and all that vitamin D gives us fresh energy. However, the winters can feel long and gray and isolating. This past fall, as I anticipated the looming change in weather, my hope and prayer became to prepare to winter well. Are you desiring the same thing too?
When I give thought to the seasons, gratitude is a natural byproduct because Ecclesiastes is right: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV. For example, I love reading aloud to our children, but we make far more time for this practice when the cold days shorten our time outdoors, so the season we anticipate reading aloud in abundance is winter. Saving certain books to read aloud is one way I brainstormed to winter well.
Skiing and indoor water parks are also on that list. My husband’s birthday is in February, so one year all he wanted was to take our family to go skiing for the day. We bundled up and the outdoor air was so refreshing and our daughters caught on quickly to this new-to-them sport. We hope to repeat this tradition as often as possible. That same year, we invited another family from church to go to an indoor water park with us, and it remains one of our favorite memories of the year!
Fireplace coziness, sippable drinks, and warm blankets also help to provide a warm atmosphere in our home for our family to enjoy wintering well together. Another rhythm Mark and I have developed over the past couple years is daily (or almost daily) walk and talks. Last year was the first time we didn’t stop with the change in weather, so in the winter we just pile on a ridiculous amount of layers and try to get out as often as possible. It is totally worth it!
What about you? What is your wintering well list? If you need some ideas, I’ll provide a few questions, podcasts, and recommended books:
What is one thing you can do this season where you live that you don’t have access to the rest of the year?
When can you prioritize asking your family, or the people you live with, what is one thing you want to do together before the weather changes?
What is your favorite winter memory from the past? Do you have a desire to recreate it?
Many times my inspiration comes from podcasts and books, so I want to encourage you to go back to timeless episodes that were shared near the first of the year. Here are quick links to help you out:
84 Ordering Your Priorities with Kat Lee
126 Rhythms of Renewal with Gabe and Rebekah Lyons
167 Pursuing Health in Four Key Areas with Debra Fileta
251 Wintering and Embracing Holy Hygge with Jamie Erickson
Bonus Episode! Fruitful with Laura Dugger
The books I recommend are related to a couple of these episodes:
Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose by Rebekah Lyons
Holy Hygge: Creating a Place for People to Gather and the Gospel to Grow by Jamie Erickson
Rhythms of Renewal will help you to winter well by helping you establish four rhythms: Rest, Restore, Connect, and Create.
The starting place is taking inventory of your life:
When do you feel most alive?
When do you feel most drained?
Where has God uniquely gifted you?
How can you begin to connect these dots to see what His current assignment is for your life?
In this fantastic book, Rebekah writes, “You’ll never discover these principles if you don’t pause to take inventory, and although resting from the day’s work long enough to do so may seem counterproductive, it might be the most beneficial thing you do.”
Additionally, I was delighted with every chapter from Jamie Erickson in Holy Hygge. She married a Scandinavian man and was introduced to hygge (pronounced HYOO-guh), and discovered this meaningful lifestyle lines up with the way Jesus lived.
She shares on page 17, “When you peel back the surface layers of this Scandinavian practice, you find seven tenets at its core. You don’t have to look hard to see that they seem strikingly in line with the abundant life offered in Christ. Hospitality, thriving relationships, well-being, a welcoming atmosphere, comfort, contentment, and rest - these are the markers of hygge. But they’re also qualities seen in the first Garden home and exhibited by Jesus.”
I like to list all of these tenants out and attach them to a question for brainstorming how to winter well:
Hospitality: Who do we want to connect with and host in this next month?
Thriving Relationships: What prayer can we begin to bring before the Lord to see who He desires for us to enjoy rich relationships with? (Bonus: apply the verse I was reminded of today: “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the one who walks with fools will be destroyed.” Proverbs 13:20 NLT)
Well-being: What area of life am I currently not experiencing the abundant life Christ offers? Spiritually, relationally, mentally, emotionally, physically, financially, intellectually, professionally, socially, etc. . . .? (For more direction here, don’t miss: Living Intentionally in Marriage, Part One)
Welcoming Atmosphere: What is one small change to allow for positively indulging our senses at home?
Comfort: As I reflect, what is one way Christ is offering me comfort in this season?
Contentment: What are the first ten things that come to mind as I consider what I am grateful for today?
Rest: From the wisdom of Dr. Saundra Dalton Smith’s episode, (81 Rest with Doctor, Author, and Speaker, Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith) what type of rest am I most thirsty for: Social, creative, emotional, sensory, spiritual, mental, or physical rest?
Hopefully this provides you with plenty of ideas to plant seeds of gratitude and prudently plan well for this season so that you can enjoy every good gift God seeks to offer you this winter!
I love the amplified version of this aforementioned verse, “There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven— “ Ecclesiastes 3:1 AMP
So what is your delight list?! What do you and your family want to prioritize this winter to delight in and to be grateful to God for? That is the first step to wintering well!
Blessings to you and yours and happy new year!
Sincerely,
Laura
About The Savvy Sauce
Practical chats for intentional living
A faith-based podcast and resources to help you grow closer to Jesus and others. Expect encouragement, surprises, and hope here. Each episode offers lively interviews with fascinating guests such as therapists, authors, non-profit founders, and business leaders.
They share their best practices and savvy tips we can replicate to make our daily life and relationships more enjoyable!
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