It was the coldest part of January several years ago. The jet stream had dropped and an arctic blast had arrived from Canada. The overnight temperatures had dropped below zero and the raw northern wind made it feel even colder. I had left my water dripping the night before but it had still frozen in the pipes. I sat outside then near the opening where the water lines came out of the ground and up into the house. I had run two extension cords through my back door to space heaters I had sat near the water pipes and was hoping they could get the water flowing again.

As I adjusted the heaters to get the warm air on the pipes the cold air of the day blew and sliced into me painfully. I saw the sun breaking through the clouds trying its best to warm the earth but the cold air of Winter was keeping it at bay, my pipes frozen, and my body shivering and hurting. My lips were chapped, my face felt raw, and my fingers were aching from the cold. Finally I went back inside. When I did I saw my loving daughter holding a steaming cup of coffee for me to drink. I smiled, took a sip, and let the liquid heat flow down my throat and warm my insides. I thanked my daughter for the cup and took another sip. And then I heard the most beautiful sound in the world: water flowing from the kitchen faucet.

As I went back out to carry the heaters back inside, I looked up at the sun and thanked God for a beautiful day, a beautiful world, and a beautiful life. As cold as it was I still felt the warmth of His Love shining through. Then I went back inside to hug my daughter and enjoy my coffee.

Sometimes this world feels like a very cold place. Sometimes it seems to do its best to keep the light, warmth, and Love of God at bay. But when we shine our light we can help God to drive away the darkness. When we share our warmth we can help God to take away the cold. And when we share our Love we can help God to melt the ice around another’s heart.