It’s a winter night in Chicago. The first snowfall this season has visited.

The first snowfall is always a beautiful sight, especially when it happens at night, when you are all snuggled up in your home with no where to go the next day.

A white Christmas is always an added plus to this magical, yet sacred day.

But, now the holidays have come and gone, and I am wishing it would have taken the winter season with it. One would think that this Chicago native would be used to it’s bitter cold and windy winters. But, I’m not, and I don’t think I ever will.

You see, my indigenous roots long for its isla– Puerto Rico, especially during nights like tonight.

To say I miss the brightness and warmth of the sun is an understatement. It’s a struggle for me to experience this season, without feeling somber, melancholy, and a bit bitter.

My attempt to make the best of this season is to snuggle under my quilted throw blanket, sip a cup of cinnamon apple tea, and savor the bittersweet taste of a cherry pie, as I write.

For a few weeks, I have been reflecting on how life can be bittersweet. Certainly, we can all agree that we have no problem embracing all the sweetness it gives us…

Walking across the stage to receive your degree

Receiving the key to your first car or home

Marrying the love of your life

Giving birth to your child- no matter how many children you have, that never gets old

Receiving an unexpected job promotion

These unforgettable memories that we cherish in our hearts, most likely have been captured in pictures and videos. Although, we can all vividly recall them in our minds.

Then, there are those bitter moments…

Our loved one is ill, and all you want to do is take away their pain

Our house is always in need of repaired

Our husband has an affair and is no longer wanting to keep his vow

Our child is rebellious and causing harm to himself and/or others around him

And, now those unforgettable memories on your Instagram or Facebook, seem so far away, and new ones just seem unattainable.

There is no going around it, life will bring us moments of pure happiness and moments of devastating despair.

Life is bittersweet!

On a side note, it will be dismissive and insensitive of me to minimize losing a loved one, especially if it was a tragic loss. I will not categorize this as bitter, but heart wrenching.

I truly believe that the bitter moments in our lives want to break us. And, some of us, let it.

We soak in our despair by sleeping too much, binging on Netflix, and eating everything in sight.

It also wants us to cling to temporary, meaningless gratifications, such as, drinking, partying, and sleeping around.

Like, any of these things will ever satisfy our hearts, or solve our problems. Don’t be fooled by the worldly ways of coping or striving in life.

The hurt or emptiness you are feeling will continue, because you haven’t done anything to address it. All you’ve done was ignore the problem by keeping yourself busy with satisfying the flesh.

In the meantime your soul and spirit continues to grieve. And so, the bitterness of life, has you where it wants you- defeated, and I am here to proclaim that is not where God wants you.

He wants you to take that brokenness and bitterness, and step out in the BOLDNESS, He has already equipped you with.

Within you there is a spirit of a lioness.

It has courage and strength to take on any circumstance that comes your way. But, you have to surrender to your spirit, and let it lead you.

During these bitter times, it is imperative that you walk in faith, listen closely to the voice of God, read your bible, spend time in worship, be a fervent prayer warrior, and seek godly counsel.

In other words, feed your spirit, and not your flesh.

And, even in the bitter moments, if you look closely, you will find God’s goodness. Things can always be worse. You don’t know how much God’s hand has spared you.

It is through the bitter times, that you will be stretched and challenged, and thus, you will experience growth in ways you never thought can be possible.

After the dust settles, it’s with admiration and an astonishment on your face, that you will look in the mirror, and wonder, who is that woman?

Perhaps, you’ll still see the scars and scratches that you had to endure through the battle, but you’ll also see a woman “clothed in strength and dignity”. Things may not turn out the way you hoped, but you will still “laugh without fear of the future” because you will have the victory.

At the end of day, it’s about our eternal life and pleasing our God. And, that my dear is perspective!

“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” Proverbs 31:25