Happy Valentine's Day!

As I was driving home Monday I was thinking about my "Winter Blah Plan".  I thought it was such a great plan but why was I still feeling the Winter Blahs??  I'm still struggling and miss the sunshine.  Then a light went off in my head.  I forgot to do the most important thing in order to make the plan work.  Of course.... its so obvious. I had forgotten to ask God for help with MY plan.  I suddenly felt my load lighter.  Why do I always forget to ask for help?

When I got home my son came in dripping wet from walking the dog.  He saw me in my running clothes and said "Its hailing out there you know?"  Doubt crept in.  It would be totally understandable to skip today's run.  I really needed God's helping hand to push me out the door.  If I didnt run today I know I'd be feeling the Winter Blahs bad. 

I got outside and yeah it was raining and hailing but it was plesantly mild.  It felt quite refreshing actually.  After a few kilometers I could see "Dan the Beer Can Man" in the distance limping with his grocery cart full of empties.  Of course.  It seems everytime I'm feeling down on myself Dan appears on my running path to lift my spirits.  Dan is homeless but a survivor, an entrepreneur and always happy with interesting stories or a joke. 

I stopped and took out my earbuds.  "Hi Dan".  I asked him if he'd been outside all winter because I had seen him walking around one really cold night.  He said of course.  "Survival of the fittest".  The problem is he's not very fit.  He has a bum hip but refuses to see a doctor.  "Im not going to the hospital.  If you go in there you always come out in a box". He told me about his igloo in the woods and how the snow storm on Friday really helped it.  He said he keeps a hibachi with coals in there and it keeps him warm all night, along with his pet coyotes. (What?!) Yep he has 2 pet coyotes named Mutt and Jeff. Their mother was killed on the train tracks 2 years ago.  Dan doesn't get the Winter Blahs and he lives in it!

I said bye and started running off.  He yelled back to me "Hey incase I dont see you, Happy Valentine's Day!"  (Thanks Dan).  I couldnt stop smiling.  I dont know why that made me smile so much but it just made me feel great.  Then the band on my MP3 player sang "Thats how I love you".

No one knows me better than my Maker.  God knows my personality so well and knows what warms the cockles of my heart.  It was a perfect little gift that made me smile and He is the perfect Valentine.