Just as the prodigal son returned to a forgiving father with arms open wide, overcome with joy that his child was home, our Heavenly Father is waiting with loving hands to embrace us.
If we have accepted Christ as our Savior, we have an even greater independence to commemorate, and that is the day we received freedom from sin and began a new life in Christ.
I am a cold-natured person with absolutely no tolerance for frigid temperatures, so if I know I am going to be somewhere I could get cold, I wear layers and pack blankets, gloves, a hat, and anything else I can think of that might eliminate the agony.