A Snow Day

Since I couldn't leave my house to get to church this morning, I took some time to reflect today on God's goodness. When I was growing up, I remember several times that it snowed more than a couple inches. I remember the excitement that would show on my face as I would sit at the picture window and watch the snow fall. As the snow would get deeper I would long to go outside. Finally, mom would get me ready to head outside and I would make my way next door to my grandparents house (which is where my family lives now). I would meet my Granddaddy on the front porch. From there we would head out to the tractor with my cousin. Granddaddy would pull us on tubes behind the tractor for hours.

I remember one time that it snowed in particular. This time it was different. The snow was deep. The deepest I could remember. My Granddaddy walked ahead. He had no problem. He went around back, toward the barn, to get the tractor. I struggled to follow behind him. I made it about 10 feet before I got stuck, and 10 seconds before I was scared. I was having boot- trouble. If I raised my foot, my boot would slip off. If I kept it down, I couldn’t move. Either, I could move and risk frost bite- or stay where I was and freeze solid.

I started to yell. “Granddaddy! Help! I’m stuck!” Snowflakes clung to my eyelashes. He couldn’t hear me. I yelled louder. I had flashbacks to the episodes of Little House on the Prairie where they were stranded in the snow…I started to cry. My ears started to burn. (I was sure it was a sign of frostbite) Tears froze on my cheeks.

Just when the world started to grow dim… (ok- maybe not so much, but I was a girl and a tad melodramatic) I saw my Granddaddy come out of the barn door. “Come on!” He called. “I can’t” I wailed. “I’m stuck!” My Grandaddy looked at me. He looked at the snow. He walked toward me. Shuffling his feet. Clearing a path. Then, he turned, “Follow me” he called over the wind and snow.

And, I did. All around the backyard. I followed him. Sometimes he shuffled, sometimes he just, walked. Where he shuffled- I skipped- the snow like the red sea, was parted on either side of me. Where he walked, I hopped from one of his gigantic (to me) footprints to another. Where the snow drifted too thick to shuffle through and too high to hop over, my Granddaddy carried me.

Often times, my journey with God, is a lot like a snow day. Exciting, and a bit dangerous. Fun, but also, hard, footprint hopping work. Some days, I feel like I’m skipping along behind God as a path is cleared. Other days, I struggle to jump from one footprint to another. There are days, when I feel like God's turned some corner where I can’t see the way. Then, there are the days when I feel stuck. Afraid to move and afraid to stay put. Life is just too deep, too high, too cold, too hard, for me to walk. I wail. I cry.

And God, hears. God wipes the snowflakes and tears from my lashes, and I can see. God was right there all the time. God picks me up. God carries me. As God always does.

Not, just on snow days.

Remember this scripture from Isaiah:

"Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all you who remain of the house of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since you were conceived,
and have carried since your birth.

Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am God, I am God who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

"To whom will you compare me or count me equal?
To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?"

Isaiah 46:3-5

After spending this snow day reflecting on God, we received a phone call from a family friend. She lives in Northwestern Virginia and got about 2 feet of snow. She is not in good health, but went out to shovel her driveway and sidewalk. She made little progress before realizing that she couldn't do it alone. She went in, sat down and prayed. A little while later she looked out and 4 young men walked up and started shoveling her driveway. She went out to speak to them and they said they were missionaries. She offered money, but they refused. They only asked for water. When they finished the drive and walkway, they left, walked down the street and didn't shovel for anyone else. It's amazing how God provides for those who ask and seek.

So take some time to look at this snow, whether you got 10 inches or 24 inches, our earth is covered in beauty. Take time to know that God is always there, clearing a path, making footprints for us to walk in. There may be times that we get lost, or lose the path, but if we cry out and listen we will realize that God is always HERE!