Seems like most people were unhappy with our unusually cold winter. The Weather Network stated: “North American just had its coldest February since 1994.”[1]
Dare we admit that’s just what we prayed for?
In late November, we began to pray for an ice-skating rink so that our students would feel the goodness of God in the midst of COVID and the campus restrictions. God provided a beautiful rink with the dimensions of 40’ by 80’.
Then we began to pray that the weather would be suitable for skating, as Southern Ontario is not known for Ottawa ice-skating weather. We actually asked ourselves: “Will we be OK in purchasing this rink if we are never able to skate on it?”
While we also enjoy mild winters, this year we were grateful for some extra cold weather. We skated many weeks in January and February. Not only have Heritage students enjoyed the rink (in groups of five), but the English-as-a Second-Language (ESL) international students have skated at least once a week. Through this ministry, we were able to give out Bibles and connect with international families.
This provided a whole new perspective on winter: Each morning we checked the weather app and prayed for skating weather. God was so good to us to send arctic blasts in response! We saw winter through new eyes: His kindness.
As I (Linda) teach internationals, I often clarify idioms such as “you get what you pay for.” But will we ask for what we desire? At Heritage, we’re praying for other future developments on our property. Having had other areas of unanswered prayer, it is easy to give up. May God strengthen our hearts to pray for our nation, our national leaders, and for our children and Heritage students. May we ask God clean hands and hearts and beg Him so that we will “get what we pray for.”
[1]Scott Sutherland, “North America just had its coldest February since 1994,” accessed March 16,2021, https://www.theweathernetwork.com/mg/news/article/noaa-records-reveal-coldest-february-for-north-america-in-27-years.
Rick and Linda Reed 