Breaking Out

December came in fiercely in 2013. With Chad gone, helping his parents, and the kids at school, I was left on my own to dig out enough sidewalk to be able to get in and out of the house. We had so much snow - at least a foot deep and it was heavy and wet and in places drifted. Well, as weird as it may sound, I actually like shoveling snow. So I bundled up and began to dig into it...

I shoveled and shoveled and shoveled. I could feel heat building in my arms and face and neck, so I decided I'd better go in and rest a bit. You see, I tend to break out in hives when I work really hard, and I could feel it starting. Well, the door was locked. I knew I had the back door open, but there was piles of snow between me and it, so I put my shoulder to the task and cleared a walkway from the side of the house around to the back...

Oh, did I say the snow was deep and heavy?!!! That was an understatement! It was interesting, because as I worked the sensation of heat actually subsided and I felt good and invigorated! I made my way into the house and was shocked to discover in the mirror a very red rash covering my neck and face. It was nasty, BUT I was very blessed because it was not itchy. Usually it is so itchy I can hardly stand it. It was ironic because when I finally shoveled my way in the back door I discovered that I had the house keys in my coat pocket the whole time!!! Anyway...

Well, that's my allergy to exercise. I was very grateful to not be suffering from it. It took about 3/4 of an hour to go away and then I went to do more shoveling. ☺ I am sure that had anyone seen me shortly thereafter they would have been alarmed at my appearance. Sometimes our challenges are easy for others to see, but more often than not, they are not discernible to the naked eye. It takes a spiritual eye to detect suffering. Some people are digging themselves out of piles of snowdrift like challenges, others are just trudging through. I have my own spiritual snowdrifts to shovel away, but I am blessed with the selfless help of my Savior. I am grateful that He does not judge me based on the piles of snow that surround me, he simply helps me clear it away, until it melts from my heart leaving me free and liberated and warm with His love. I am so grateful that snow melts!!!