The Weather Stick

My daughter recently gave me this neat gift that she found in a country store in Vermont. It’s called a “The Davis Hill Weather Stick.” According to the tag that came with it, the weather stick “tells you what the weather is doing.” If the stick points to the sky, the weather is good, but if it points to the ground, the weather isn’t going to be so good. I hung it outside under the eave of our patio as instructed but I was skeptical that it would do anything but be a perch for the sparrows. Lo, and behold, the very next day, the stick was pointing downward and, sure enough, it rained that afternoon. The next morning the stick was pointing heavenward once again as the rising sun warmed the new day. It actually worked! The tag stated that the sticks are harvested at a certain time of year, carefully prepared and dried and that the folks at Davis Hill didn’t know why, but the “Old Timers” had faith in them so that it was good enough for them. I suspect it had something to do with the type of wood it is and that it’s very sensitive to humidity changes. All I know is that it works. It’s a natural barometer that let‘s me know what the day will be like.

Wouldn’t it be great to have something like that hanging in our homes that could tell us when we get up in the morning what kind of a day it’s going to be with regard to our relationships and activities? Will it be a good day or one of those bleak days when we’d be better off staying home in bed instead of dealing with people and facing the problems and difficulties that are bound to come our way because the indicator…ie weather stick…forewarned us? Unfortunately, life isn’t that easy. Avoidance or procrastination are not options when we know we‘ve got difficult people to deal with and problems to solve. As hard as it may be, we have to face our responsibilities each day head on, meeting the challenges that come our way because chances are they just won‘t go away on their own and will be there tomorrow anyway. Sometimes, those self-protective tactics only make things worse so it’s better to deal with them as they come.

As Christians, we can get up each day with confidence and joy because Jesus said He will be with us always, never to leave us or forsake us so we don‘t have to face anything or anyone alone. That’s encouraging, especially when we know the day ahead is going to be a rough one. Jesus gives us many other promises, as well, to see us through our faith journey. He will give us the strength to face the challenges that await us; He will help us fight life’s battles with temptations and He will protect and provide for us giving us wisdom to deal with situations and people as He helps us fulfill His will for our lives. He has a plan for each of us - a plan for good and not harm. Jeremiah, the “Weeping Prophet” who faced way too many tough days of his own, put it this way. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” He goes on to say, “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jer. 29:11-13.) Jeremiah knew all too well the meaning of hardship and heartache, but he knew in whom he could trust. The key is staying close to God in a personal relationship through Jesus Christ. Phil. 4:13 tells us that “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” and in Matt. 7:8 Jesus promised, “For everyone who asks receives, he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

All these promises will sustain us when the “weather stick” of our lives tells us that the day ahead won’t be so pleasant. Just look up to the One who created the weather and He will calm your storm.
Peace in Christ,
Mary, Web Editor