I’m going to venture to say it will be awhile before we forget that last cold snap; there are no words for how cold our Saskatchewan deep freeze can really get. I’m sure the local automotive supply stores appreciated a spike in vehicle battery and extension cord sales! The frigid temperatures are sure to magnify what is weak or compromised when it comes to our homes, our vehicles and even our bodies. The cold penetrates our bones, it seems, and I sure do appreciate that glorious heat that our wood stove emits.
Our barn cats were grateful for a little mercy, too. They spent the days in the garage where they had all the necessary things to live a cat’s life. Monkey and Lavvy (there’s a story behind that name I may have to tell sometime) basked in the warmth of condo living for a couple weeks while Buddy, our lab/husky cross, dreaded every minute he had to spend with them. Buddy likes to spend his time in the evenings in the porch (and he pushes those boundaries a lot) where he is in close proximity to the family however, when it is time for bed, he spends his nights in the garage (when it is cold) instead of outside in his warmly insulated doghouse. I’m not sure what it is that he doesn’t like about the cats being in the big expanse of a double garage (besides the fact that they lay on his bed that he never uses) but the last few days before the cold snap broke, he showed great contempt for being kicked out to his nighttime quarters. He absolutely did not want to be with those kitty cats! Once the deep freeze started to retreat, Buddy was sure to stay outside for bedtime. The cats were kicked out. Everybody was happy for some fresh air and independence.
We are resilient people here in Saskatchewan. We have endured many hardships and are found facing unprecedented challenges once again.In fact, you may have just faced some untold difficulties in this latest cold snap; I am praying you will recover all! Our world will never return to what it was pre-COVID. Sadly, there are certainly many situations that are not going to be the same as they once were.
However, going forward, there are also innovative ways that have been discovered to adapt and even improve certain situations. I certainly appreciated when Big Sweet Pea was able to speak her doctor over the phone and then schedule an appointment for her to come to the clinic rather than spending hours waiting in the clinic’s waiting room in order to see a doctor. There is a pioneering spirit in this province that will rise above these challenges and find a way that works.
As I mentioned, it was time some of our systems and structures made a change and I will gladly welcome them. That said, we do not need to look ahead with doom and gloom. God has great plans moving forward. If we look to our circumstances to provide hope, we will likely not see much. Our eyes need to be focused on the One True God. In that, we will find our resiliency, our hope, our strength and our vision in Him. I’m reminded of that old hymn, “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” by Edward Mote.
God is greater than any storm or plan of the enemy. There are countless historical examples of how He has delivered His people. Rest assured, He will do that again.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
