What I Learned From Elsa, The Snow Queen {and the apostle, Paul}

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32

If you are a mom, then you know snow days are work.

I had dreamt this wintry day up for months.  A white and quiet day packed with hot cocoa and big quilts. But as soon as the snow dropped, so did every piece of clothing from my boys’ closet.   Snow suits, boots, mittens, hats, socks, gloves, scarves and long johns began to take over my house.  Every room ransacked from the “dressing for warmth” raid.

And while hot cocoa was  on the stove, it was a mere after-thought to my children.  Who has time for chocolate toddys when there are snowballs to be thrown? And you can forget about snuggling on the couch with mommy.  The closest they came to a blanket was the old one they trampled coming in and out of the back door.  The blanket guarding my hardwood floors from melting ice.

I felt my disappointment settle in as this snow day drew to a close. As the sun set in the west it took with it my expectations of our first (and possibly only) snow day of the year.  No one stopped for homemade snickerdoodles or snuggles with mommy on the couch.  Who am I kidding?  … even I barely had a minute to sit-down from the re-tying of boot strings and changing wet socks.

Before I knew it,  a root of bitterness was trying hard to grow deep into my hope-deferred heart (Proverbs 13:12).  My “dreamt-up” snow day wasn’t what I had dreamt-up at all.

I couldn’t see the frosty forest for the snow-covered trees.  There I stood  at my sink “aggressively” putting dirty dishes in the wash, wishing someone would notice my frustration and pat my back, when all the time it was ME who was missing the point of this day.

We do this don’t we?  Allow bitterness to take root when things don’t go our way?  We shut cabinets a little louder, hoping someone in the room would notice our struggle and apologize for something they didn’t do.

But this is when the story takes a very unexpected turn…

Of all the things going on in my head I had a song stuck from earlier in the day… Elsa from the Disney movie, Frozen, singing Let It Go.

If you haven’t seen Frozen, let me encourage you to do so.  By far, it is one of my Disney favorites.  The soundtrack is incredible and played often around here.

Maybe it was the snow or maybe it was the cold shoulder I was beginning to turn towards my family, I don’t know, but this song was in my head and now it was speaking to my heart.

Let it go.  I sang.  Let it go. I hummed.

Let it go.  I began to tell myself.

Let it all go…my expectations of a lazy snow day filled with snuggles and games.

Let it go… the frustrations that were fraying the enjoyment I could be experiencing  with my family if I could just get over myself.

Let it go, the Lord started to speak to me.Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you. (Ephesians 4:31)

Let. It. All. Go.

Yes Sir.

With that I set down my dirty dishes and went upstairs.  Pulling down my own snow suit, boots, mittens, hat, socks, gloves and scarf.  Ransacking my own closet in a “dressing for warmth” raid.

Let it go, Becky, and get out there with your kids!  Enjoy their dreams for a snow day.   Make snow angels with Luke.  Catch falling flakes on your tongue and throw snowballs at Grant.

Let go of your bitterness and your unmet expectations. This is the {snowy} day the Lord has made. Go rejoice and be glad in it.  (Paraphrase mine… Psalm 118:24) 

Being glad is my choice.  Rejoicing is an act of my will.  

Is there an area of your life that you are harboring bitterness due to unmet expectations?  Are you like me, wanting someone to come pat your back and feel sorry for you sad state?  Do you close kitchen cabinets a little louder, too, hoping someone will take notice?

Let Elsa’s voice ring loud in your ears today… Let it go.

Let Paul’s instruction take the place of that bitter root…Be renewed in the attitude of your mind. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you. (Ephesians 4:23, 31)

There will undoubtably be plenty of quiet snows with quilts and cocoa.  There are days ahead where I will wish I had snow suits to wash and boots to trip over.

 But this is the day that the Lord has made.

Today.

Let us all choose to “let it go” and rejoice in it!

If you aren’t familiar with Let It Go, click here to get it stuck in your head, too.  🙂

Power Verses

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.  Hebrews 12:15

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2