When I married Harvey Lootsma - almost ten years ago - and moved to Kincardine - he warned me that I was moving to “Grey”/Bruce County - emphasis on the grey. I thought (at the time) - it can’t be that bad! It is. Once the lovely autumn weather is over - the clouds gather over Lake Huron and they don’t leave. You can count on one hand the number of sunny days we have through most of November, December and January.

Yes - we keep busy! Yes - we have a jigsaw puzzle on the table. Yes - I continue to workout and play pickle ball as much as possible. Yes - we go to our church. Yes - we have dinner with family and friends - meet for coffee - and walks - but man - do I miss the sunshine.

So…..this morning……Harv and I are jetting off to Curacao for a few weeks of sunshine and surf and heat.

I remember the very first time our family went away for a week in the winter time. Our sons were in Grade 9, 8 and 7 and a friend offered us the use of her dad’s condo. We couldn’t believe it. We had never been able to go south in the wintertime and now it was happening. We made our plans - set our departure date - started to pack……and then……the unthinkable……my friend called to say that the condo had been sold and was no longer available for us to use.

I felt sick. What would we tell the boys. They were already in bed. I cried and then I did what I always did when I wasn’t sure what to do - I called my Mom. She could fix everything. Mom shared my disappointment - then said - “give me some time - let’s sleep on it - I’ll call you in the morning.” Sure enough. Mom called the next morning to say a friend in a senior’s trailer park said we could use their trailer for a week. Same week. Just a different location. Needless to say - Randy and I were thrilled we didn’t have to cancel our trip. We were thankful we didn’t have to tell the boys we weren’t going.

We left on a Thursday afternoon and planned to drive through the night - make it to St. Pete’s, Florida in 24 hours or so. Zac - was in the back of the van with a snorkel out the window for “air” - Ben and Pete were in the middle seats in the “captain chairs” - me riding “shotgun” and Randy was driving the first shift. Everyone was super excited. We crossed the border at Detroit (got a little turned around and ended up in an “unsavoury” area but finally found the right way and headed south. Through Michigan. Then Ohio. Then Kentucky. I got the “graveyard” shift for driving - around midnight! The boys were sound asleep. Randy was ready for a nap. I was wide awake. After changing positions - Randy fell fast asleep and I was the only one awake in the van. I drove through the Carolinas - and into Georgia - listening to music - praying for my family - 4 guys all snoring! Finally around 4:30 am - I pulled off I-75 and into an IHOP parking lot - shut the van off - and fell asleep myself.

We all woke up around 7:00 and I’ll never forget the warmth of that morning sun - the green grass - the flowers blooming - and that warm, warm air. It was winter back home but it was summer in the south.

I’ve been on several winter vacations since that very first one and I’m never grown tired of that moment - when you step off the plane - and the wave of hot, humid, delicious air hits you squarely in the face. I don’t take it for granted.

One of the wisest men who ever lived was King Solomon and he wrote this - “Sunshine is sweet, it is good to see the light of day.” This verse reminds me how much a person wants - desires - needs - appreciates - the warmth and light of the sun. It also reminds me of how we all need to be “sunshine” to the people we come in contact with each day.

How does one be the sunshine in another’s life?

Offer it freely. Don’t be stingy in our words to others. Don’t withhold encouragement and gratitude. Do fill the cups of others willingly and lovingly.

Offer compassion. It’s like balm on a burn or cut when we show empathy rather than criticism to our loved ones and friends. Don’t tell them “what it was like in your day” or “you should have done it this way”. Encourage and bless them.

Be generous. Generosity always wins. Withholding “sunshine” hurts both the giver and the receiver.

Encourage perseverance. The sun comes up every morning and goes down at the end of the day - even if the clouds are covering it. On those cloudy days - especially on the cloudy days - in a spiritual sense - it’s important to be the cheering section.

Dispel negativity. This is the worst. It’s one of the most devastating words I know. A negative spirit really kills. Be and do the opposite - promote positivity.

C. S. Lewis wrote in his book - The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe - “Always winter and never Christmas.” Lewis wanted his readers to understand that under the rule of the White Witch - the people of Narnia were trapped in a world without God (Aslan) - joy - light - and redemption. Christmas changes that notion.

And yes! In the next few weeks - I’ll bask in the literal sunshine of the warm Caribbean sun and I know I’ll meet some new friends where I will be able to spread a little sunshine. I’ll bring some home with me!