By this time in the calendar year many people are feeling depressed because of the frequent cloudy days, freezing cold and occasional snow. It may be very cold outside but that does not mean that you have to have a numbed mind or cold heart on the inside.  

One way to cure the winter blahs is to remember that the love of family, friends and,above all God, is always present to warm our hearts and minds.  

Catholics have been told for centuries that God is always present within and around us.  We are also told that God loves us beyond price. If you want to eliminate all those weather-related feelings and thoughts try to work on awareness, the awareness of God’s presence and love in your life. God always seeks a deep, personal, loving relationship with us, a friendship that can warm us through and through.

An old saying can be applied to friendship with God and others, “Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable.” With awareness, those coals of love for God can be deep-burning and unquenchable within us.  

One way we can have those coals warm our hearts is to reach out to others. Winter is hard on the poor and especially the homeless. There many ways to help them. Monetary donations are one way. What may be more meaningful is to donate food to a food pantry, serve meals at a homeless shelter, take gloves, hats and personal items to a shelter. To truly give of yourself in some way will definitely warm your heart.

Another way for those coals to touch us is to reach out to family, friends and neighbors. Most of us know someone who is home bound, lonely, or limited in some way. A short visit, taking someone shopping, a telephone call, even a card can make someone’s day. In the long run, you will be the one to benefit by reaching out to others.

Dwelling on the dreary days and inclement weather is not going to improve your attitude. Going out of yourself for others will. 

Bah Humbug to the weather!  

When and in what ways have you reached out to others?

In what ways do you deal with the “down days?”