Winter Depression
There’s something about a snow day that is absolutely magical to a child. Waking up to an unexpected day off school and a beautiful blanket of sparkling, white snow on the ground was something I always loved during my school years. As I grew, however, I began to dislike snow and winter. I didn’t like always being cold, having to wear a heavy winter coat, and being stuck inside for what felt like an eternity while anxiously awaiting spring.
After graduating high school, that dislike quickly grew to an intense hatred. I began to dread every time I had to venture out into the cold and snowy world, and I despised driving on bad roads. I believe I was about 18 or 19 years old at the time, and I really began to go too far with this. I let that hatred fill me up so much that I could not enjoy anything. I walked around campus so gloomy and depressed that I imagine everyone probably thought something was horribly wrong with me. Being that I live in northeast Ohio, this cold weather can last anywhere from late October to early April. That’s about 4-5 months depending on the year. I still regret most things about that particular winter, because I wasted it moping around.
Changing my Outlook
Sometime after I became a Christian a couple years ago, I decided I could no longer live like that. I knew I wasn’t having the right attitude, for one thing, and I also wanted God to help me to find moments to actually enjoy during what I thought was the worst part of the year. I remember venturing out behind campus one day and wandering beyond the normal paths of student traffic. My breath nearly caught in my throat when I saw an untouched stretch of land covered in the most sparkly snow I had ever seen, and beyond that, a pond completely iced over. The sun was shining brightly, and it looked like a million diamonds were dancing before me with every step I took. I knelt down right where I was and ended up having a really good time of prayer right there, alone in the snow.
My attitude was horribly wrong before, but I am very grateful I’ve been able to move beyond that. Do I love winter and snow now? Definitely not. My favorite season is summer, without a doubt. I still don’t like being cold, and I still don’t like driving on icy roads. But the correct attitude has made all the difference for me. I no longer spend every moment of winter moping around and hating every step I take outside. I ask God regularly to help me see the good in everything instead. On top of this, I have sunshine in my heart that allows me to at least have peace during unpleasant situations. No, I don’t bubble over with joy while sliding around on icy roads, but there’s a sweet calmness within me.
“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.”
–Albert Camus
What Does the Bible Say About Snow?
I looked this up recently just for fun. There are not many verses in the Bible that are about snow, but here are a few that I like:
Job 37:6 “For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.”
Psalm 51:7 “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
What I believe I can take from these verses is that 1) God is the one that commands the snow to fall to the earth, 2) snow is used as a symbol of purity and cleanliness. What’s more is that God can wash our sins even whiter than that seemingly perfect blanket of fresh-fallen whiteness that glistens outside our windows.
Winter 2018
All this has been to say, this winter, I will do my best to appreciate the beauty of the snow, knowing that spring will be here before I know it. Do I think people are wrong for disliking winter? No. I just want to be careful with my own attitude about it and try to find joy in everything. I hope to be able to find “in whatever state I am in, to be content” (Philippians 4:11). So here are some pictures of things I found to be quite delightful while walking around my yard after a terrifying drive home on slippery roads with bald tires.
That post ended up being longer than I had intended, but thank you for reading. Try to stay warm out there and enjoy the beauty of our winter wonderland!
Until next time!
“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake, it is necessary to stand out in the cold.”
-Aristotle
Growing in Grace | Stephanie Giles 