It was wintry cold on our first doggie walk this morning. Penelope had on a baggy sweater and was running around in the cold so happily. I was toasty warm in my new coat, a gift from my dearest friend. Kat joined us on our walk, just as frisky as Penelope. They drug me down the broken sidewalk, enjoying the brisk morning. The sky was a pale cold blue. Father Sky sketched no clouds today. The sun was a yellow diamond in the blue sea. I could feel her warmth kissing my face when I walked from the shade to the open air. It really is a beautiful day. I’m wishing for a few snowflakes.

Penelope and I have been snuggled in the reading chair in my lady den most of the day. I’m collecting quotes, listening to music from the 1970s, watching all the chickadees and cardinals on the bird feeders. My house is still fully decorated for Christmas. I should get up and begin putting the Christmas decorations away but I’m just too comfortable and cozy now. I put a pork roast in the crock pot. The house smells like a good supper is in the making.

Oldest brother stopped by right after work and I invited him to supper. I know he was tired and hungry from working out in this cold all day. We had pork roast, mac and cheese, garlic mashed potatoes, pinto beans, and rolls. Had cranberry sauce and a jar of delicious peach pickles from the feed store, too. Been a while since I’ve cooked such a delicious supper. I glanced over at oldest brother while we were eating supper thinking how much he looks like our daddy. When he celebrates his birthday this month he will have outlived daddy by 20 years. One more year and I’ll be the age my mother was when she died.

J.R.R. Tolkien said, “Not all those who wander are lost.” We all wander through life and our journeys are just as important as our destinations. Through our journeys we discover ourselves and find meaning through our wandering steps. One of my blogging friends wanders through the beautiful landscape of a snowy winter in Minnesota and composes wondrous photographs of nature and her creatures. He’s got a way with his words, too. When I see his photos I think of the quote by Confucius, “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” He sees it and captures it in his photographs.

There is so much beauty in the world when we walk with God on our journeys. Some of us let ourselves walk straight with God, content to stay on the path he’s paved for us. Others step off the path wandering without meaning, stumbling on the rocks, realizing they need God’s grace to recover from their detour. I think we all have crises that stress us out and cause anxiety, periods where we question our faith in God. These doubts can actually help grow our faith and trust in God. We restore our faith through prayer and thanksgiving. Even when we feel doubt we need to remember God will never abandon us.

God doesn’t mind if we wander off the path. God never judges us. He is steadfast, always standing ready to catch us, helping us stand up, pointing us in the right direction. We just have to be brave enough to give God control and trust him to lead us down the correct path. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths,” Proverbs 3:5-6.

God tests our faith to help grow and strengthen our faith. Philippians 4:13 reads, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” We experience difficult situations, temptations, and unanswered prayers. These challenges help teach us God is in control and if we remain faithful we’ll find peace and hope and healing.

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” — John Muir