Winter Doldrums
“The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
observing the wicked and the good.”
Snowed In, Stir-Crazy, and One Candy Too Far
After weeks of snow and indoor play, Blizzard and Cyclone find a fun way to beat the winter blues. But a simple game leads to an important lesson about trust, rules, and love.
Winter had settled in hard, and for weeks the snow kept piling up in our yard. At first, it was exciting. Cyclone and I went sledding on our favorite little hill, and we helped Grandpa shovel the driveway and sidewalks after every storm. But after a while, winter felt long. Really long.
Most days, we stayed inside. We played games, jumped on the bed, and tried to stay busy, but the house started to feel smaller with each snowy day.
One afternoon, after Cyclone and I finished our schoolwork, I had an idea.
“Want to play a new game?” I asked.
Cyclone’s eyes lit up. “What kind of game?”
“It’s called Trick or Treat.”
Cyclone tilted his head. “Trick or Treat? What’s that?”
I told him to grab his Halloween candy bag, and I grabbed mine. We still had plenty of candy left over. We sat down on the bench by the front door, right where we usually take off our shoes.
“You go first,” I said.
Cyclone smiled and said, “Trick or Treat!”
I reached into my bag and handed him a bite-sized Snickers bar. Then it was my turn to say it, and Cyclone gave me one of his candies. It seemed like the perfect winter game.
Everything was going great… until Grandma noticed.
She walked over, looked at us, and quietly picked up both candy bags.
“Time to brush your teeth,” she said.
Cyclone frowned. “But dinner’s almost ready. Why do we have to brush now?”
Grandma smiled, but she was serious. “You know the rule. Candy is hard on your teeth. You get one piece after supper, then you brush.”
I tried to explain. “But we weren’t eating our own candy. We were trading.”
Grandma shook her head. “That’s not how rules work. The rule isn’t about whose candy it is. It’s about taking care of your teeth and your health.”
She paused, then added, “One time might not hurt you, but bending rules over and over will.”
That meant no more candy for the rest of the day… or the next.
Cyclone and I learned a few important things right then. First, Grandma and Grandpa really meant what they said. Second, their rules were there to protect us. And third, Grandma was not easy to trick. She was always watching out for her family.
Cyclone and I know we are blessed. We quickly headed to the bathroom to brush our teeth without arguing.
Later, I thought about it more. Grandma’s rules reminded me of something else.
Just like parents give rules to protect their kids, God gives us rules because He loves us. I didn’t mean to break Grandma’s rule. I just wasn’t thinking. I was having fun and forgot why the rule mattered in the first place.
Maybe you’ve done that too.
Sometimes we may not understand why parents or God gave us rules to live by, especially when we’re enjoying ourselves. But rules from parents and from God aren’t meant to take joy away. They’re meant to guide us, protect us, and help us grow.
The Bible reminds us of this in Proverbs 15:3: “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, observing the wicked and the good.”
God sees us, cares for us, and knows our hearts. Just like Grandma, He isn’t fooled. He knows everything.
So whether it’s a candy rule or a bigger life rule, it’s worth remembering this: rules given with love are a blessing, even when they’re hard to follow.
