The Best things about Winter

I've updated the sidebar to this blog with some great Catholic Links, a guide to the rosary is there (If you own an iphone, there's a great app with a guide to the Rosary there is well). The rosary guide is the most important one, because as Sister Lucia said at Fatima, there is no problem that can not be overcome with the Rosary. Also, on the sidebar is a link for more info on Natural Family Planning, (There's also an iphone NFP app, I kid you not).

Every season, I always try to offer a quick list of the best things each season has to offer, and I've been late on the winter list, probably because winter is my least favorite season. But that's the completely wrong attitude, if the earthquake in Haiti should teach us anything, its to be more grateful. So here is the gratitude guide to winter.

1.) Great Opportunity for hard work- We can't accomplish our dreams and goals without hard work, and its hard to work in the Spring and Summer on a beautiful day, but the winter offers us an opportunity to put our head down and accomplish any necessary work.

2.) Opportunity to build Relationships- We are naturally inside more in winter, so it should be an opportunity to strengthen our relationships.

3.) Nature's Beauty- I was walking outside a couple weeks ago, and I was struck by how beautiful the sparseness of the winter is, there was a full moon, there was nothing growing, but I was so happy about the way nature runs its course.

4.) Great Sports Months- The NFL Playoffs and the Super Bowl are coming up, and College Basketball is heating up, plus the Winter Olympics start Feb 12th.

5.)Great Sleeping weather- Its darker longer in winter, so its almost an invition to catch up on some needed rest. Sleep is such a gift from God, and its good to catch up on it during the winter.

6.) Gratitude- The winter clearly fosters gratitude, it was 42 degrees here in Philly last week, and people were so excited, this is actually a great thing. People in San Diego don't enjoy 42 and sunny as much as we do!

This is an incomplete list, but every season offers us an opportunity for gratitude!