On it’s own winter can be hard. Sunlight in the northern states is hard to come by. In Michigan, the Lakes are constantly causing clouds to form and envelope us in gray. Screens wall us off from the natural world and one another. Friendships can be reduced to a social media like every once in a while. The whole widower thing is another level of woe. Itis easy for our minds to slide toward self, beyond just care. Over preoccupation with circumstances drive despair. Anxiety is easily triggered in such conditions.

As I made my bed this morning those “woe is me” thoughts wanted to occupy space in my head and heart. “Instead of woe I should be saying wow!” I said as I stacked my pillows.

Wow—I have another day.

Wow—I can breathe.

Wow—I know God is for me.

Wow—I have stories to tell.

Wow—I had a good wife.

Wow—my kids love me.

Wow—I have seven beautiful grandkids to pray for.

Wow—my furnace works when it’s two degrees (F) outside.

Wow—I need some groceries!

Wow instead of Woe.

Works every time!

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