"When I was a child, I embraced winter...Winter was a season of magic. What if we could embrace winter like a child again?  There is a hidden gift in winter, tucked away in secret for those of us who have adopted a Growing Slow mindset. We might think that because it's winter, nothing is growing at all. But that's not true, winter is the season when we might experience the best growth of all: growth in character, in rest, in dependence, in trust, and in the art of celebrating the work of planting and harvest." -Jennifer Dukes Lee, Growing Slow, pg. 170

How in the world can we work on embracing winter like a child this year when it so often seems like a season of dreariness, cold, and misery? 

As Jennifer hints at (and gives more winter insights in her amazing book Growing Slow!), I'm choosing to slow down, reflect, and play to embrace this winter time and the wondrous appeal it can still hold. 

Slow Down:  As the animals go into hibernation and the ground goes still, it's also a time for us to rest.  For me, this looks like allowing extra rest for my body - sleeping in a little later on weekends, taking some naps, as needed, and letting go of unnecessary self-induced pressures and expectations.  I don't have to get my whole to-do list down by noon!  With the Lord's help, I'm entering into the seasons and cycles of rest that our Creator God has placed in our world for a reason.  "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." -Psalm 46:10 (NASB, 1995). 

Resources for Slowing Down: 
-I love the Get Sleepy Podcast on Youtube and Spotify.  It's full of cozy sleep stories that I often put on during power naps or breathing exercises to help me relax and quiet my mind.  I've used it during nights of insomnia, too! 

-Breath as Prayer by Jennifer Tucker is quickly becoming a new favorite. I've been so amazed over the past year at the power of my own breath to help manage symptoms and quell anxiety. This science and Scriptural based resource is helpful for anyone and everyone needing help to slow down, refocus on Christ, and embrace the present moment. Love it!

Reflect: What makes for a better time for reflection than winter?  The ground is covered in a blank canvas of white (or brown!), darkness and gray skies are close at hand, and we often spend more times in our homes or alone.  Let's embrace this season of winter by looking inward and upward.  For me, this looks like spending more intentional time in the Word and with God - not just checking my devotions off of my to do list.  This also means asking the Holy Spirit to reveal the areas I'm struggling in - not out of condemnation, but as a catalyst for growth.  "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love." -John 15:8-9

Resources for Reflection: 

-Good Enough by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie is an honest and witty devotional book that is helping me better embrace my humanity in this season.  Each devotion feels like chatting with friends who see you and love you in the midst of your beautiful and messy life. 

-I've become intrigued by the Danish concept of hygge lately.  It's seems to celebrate the coziness and warmth that winter can bring (a cozy blanket, cup of tea, and twinkle lights, anyone?) That's why I'm loving the Holy Hygge Podcast which discusses how the tenets of hygge can integrate with a life of faith.  A great listen for those with a slight obsession with hygge like me! 

-Numbering Our Days by Nichole Suvar is another great resource to focus on each winter day with intentionality and eternal perspective!

Play: My dad and I have enjoyed watching the television show Lego Masters this past year, so you know what I did? I bought a small set of lego bricks for myself!  I'm not a child, nor do I have any, but sometimes its in these seasons of winter that it can be vital to embrace a child-like spirit.  And so often to me that means embracing imagination and creativity - little things that can spark a smile or laugh.  After all, we were made in the image of a creative God; let's embrace that a little more this season. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth...So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." -Genesis 1:1, 27

Resources for Play: 

This one is completely up to you!  Maybe embracing your imagination means picking up a paintbrush or a coloring book.  Maybe it means whipping up a new dessert in the kitchen or practicing some yoga.  Maybe it means re-reading a book you loved as a child or finding a television show that really makes you laugh.  Take a deep breath and let some of the weight and expectations go.  Embrace some of the goodness, beauty, (and even fun!) that life can still offer in the midst of your struggle.