There is something sacred about the first real cold snap of winter.
The kind that makes you pull your sweater a little tighter.
The kind that sends you searching for that favorite blanket.
The kind that whispers, slow down now.
Winter never apologizes for asking us to hunker down. It simply arrives, quiet and insistent, and extends an invitation we didn’t even know we needed: to turn inward, to rest, to be still.
The Quiet Permission of Winter
Our world rarely gives us room to withdraw, to cocoon, or to let the rhythm of our days match the shorter light and longer nights. Yet winter offers this permission freely if we choose to receive it.
When the cold settles in and the world outside grows hushed, something in us remembers an older rhythm. A rhythm that knows rest is not laziness. A rhythm that understands that some of the most important work happens in the quiet.
What Fills the Soul in Winter
So what do we do with these cold, cozy days? What truly nourishes us when we hunker down?
We light candles and watch the flame dance. There is something nearly prayerful about it – how the steady glow pushes back the darkness.
We wrap our hands around warm mugs. Coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon, cocoa in the evening. Each one a small ceremony of comfort, steam rising like our unspoken prayers.
We finally pull out the books we’ve been meaning to read. We get lost in stories, or found in the words of poets and wise guides.
We cook slow meals that warm the whole home. Soup simmering all afternoon. Bread rising on the counter. Food that quietly says you are loved, you are cared for, you are home.
We create with our hands. Knitting, drawing, writing, building – whatever allows the soul to speak without words.
We sit in the silence and simply breathe. We hear the wind at the windows. We watch the snowfall if we are blessed with it. We let ourselves be still, without agenda or achievement.
The Deeper Invitation
But winter isn’t only inviting us to cozy moments. It is calling us deeper.
It reminds us that we too are part of creation’s rhythms. That we need seasons of dormancy and rest. That sometimes growth happens underground, in the dark, where no one can see.
Winter asks gentle questions.
What needs to fall away?
What needs to rest?
What is God nurturing in you that is not yet ready to bloom?
These cold months give permission to let some things lie fallow. To stop striving. To trust that spring will return, but for now, this stillness is exactly where you are meant to be.
A Prayer for the Cold Days
For the shortened days and lengthened nights,
For the cold that sends us seeking warmth,
For the quiet that settles over everything,
Thank You.
Teach us to hunker down without guilt.
To rest without apology.
To find You in the stillness,
In the candle’s glow,
In the steam rising from our cups,
In the peace of simply being held.
Amen.
As the cold weather settles in around you, I hope you’ll accept winter’s invitation. Pull on your coziest socks. Light a candle. Make a slow, comforting meal. Open a good book. And remember that in the hunkering down, your soul is being tended.
You are exactly where you need to be.
What will you do this winter to fill your soul?
Soul-Warming Chicken Soup
Speaking of slow meals, here is a simple, forgiving chicken soup that fills the house with warmth. It tastes like comfort and makes the whole home smell like a hug.
Ingredients:
2–3 lbs bone-in chicken pieces (thighs and breasts work beautifully)- a rotisserie chicken works well too
8 cups organic chicken broth
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
3 celery stalks, chopped
1 large onion, diced
3–4 cloves garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon dried thyme (or a few fresh sprigs)
1 teaspoon dried parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
1 ½ cups egg noodles or your favorite pasta
Fresh lemon juice (optional, but lovely)
Fresh dill or parsley for serving
Instructions:
- In a large pot, add the chicken, broth, bay leaves, and a generous pinch of salt. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer 45–60 minutes, until the chicken is tender.
- Remove the chicken and set aside to cool. Leave the broth simmering.
- Add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic, thyme, and parsley. Simmer about 20 minutes, until everything is tender.
- Shred the cooled chicken, removing skin and bones. Add the meat back to the pot. If you are using a rotisserie chicken, it’s a much easier process as it is already cooked and will just need shredding!
- Add the noodles and cook according to package directions.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Add lemon juice if you like a bright finish.
- Serve warm with fresh herbs and crusty bread or in a bread bowl. My favorite bread bowls are from the Healing Slice website.
A little note: it tastes even better the next day. 📖☕
“Winter is the season when warmth comes from within.” 🕯️
With love, from the porch,
Laura
The Prayer Porch 