Here's a picture of my side yard on the west side of my house. I took it a few minutes ago. Maybe your place looks similar -- lots of snow, lots of white stuff?
Two winters ago, the winter of 2012-2013 my daughter Maggie and I agreed we didn't like winter but I told her we had to try and enjoy it.
If you know our story you can gather that didn't really happen that winter. That winter had all sorts of issues.
But this year I intend to enjoy it. Our pastor told the church yesterday that he has a great love for snow. He also shared his reason why on Facebook today. I want to quote him here (he has no idea I am so I am doing this without permission but he is a loving brother in Christ and I am pretty sure he'll be fine with it, but if you have any problems with this post the fault lies with me):
Fred MacDonald writes, "Looking on a field covered with a layer of untouched, unsullied snow speaks of the beauty, purity, and holiness of God. It touches the earth with a softness, not unlike the soft, gentle touch of the Master. A thick blanket of snow across the land pictures the warmth of His love that surrounds and protects me from the coldness that a hard life often brings.
As gentle and beautiful as snow is, however, it must be respected. Even the treacherous nature of snow on a winding country road or on a bumper-to-bumper highway reminds of God's sovereignty and that, "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom."
Call me crazy . . . but I love the snow."
Before I heard him speak yesterday I was trying to love the new season. I decided I wouldn't let this early winter get to me. Fred's description of snow makes the thought of enjoying the snow even more compelling. Thanks Fred!
Are you enjoying the snow?
I have found some very good reasons to love this year's early snow.
It is lengthening one season for me I absolutely love -- the Christmas season. The way I like to celebrate Christmas is to start early and end early (I prefer to have all Christmas decorations gone and put away by the night of the 25th). My husband tolerates my quirks in this season. So, I've already hung Christmas lights. I already have plans for a tree. We've been making more shape cookies than usual. I ate four gingerbread men Sunday after church (They were delicious but this 46 year old body can't handle that many at once).
And I was able to get a winter coat I absolutely love Saturday at one of our local thrift stores. I had been wanting one. And God provided ($7.50 is a pretty good deal for a nice wool winter coat).
The snow is a gift. I can say that even though I drove my car into it this morning which made my youngest son late to school and had me taking an extra road trip.
Snow is beautiful.
It is cold and wet, but when the sun shines on it we are blessed with the sight of thousands upon thousands of twinkling diamonds.
God has His reasons for sending winter early this year. We don't have to understand but we can learn to be content with it while looking forward to warmer days.
It energizes a person to do a bit of exercise in the cold. Your face gets some color. Your lungs get a work out. You can feel renewed if you look up.
God has some lovely things to say about snow. First, snow is stored in storehouses:
"Have you entered the storehouses of the snow" Job 38:22a.
God speaks to the snow ("For to the snow, God says, 'Fall on the earth,' Job 38:7a).
He gives us snow like wool (this is in Psalm 147:16...and I don't quite know it means -- does it mean it warms the earth when it is cold out? If you have thoughts I'd love to hear them).
And the white appearance of the snow can remind us of heaven. Here's why:
"And (the angel's) appearance was like lightning, and his garment as white as snow." Matthew 28:3
Let's let the earth have its nap and let's revel in snow's beauty which is straight from our Great Creator.
"Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow." James 1:17