We Love Snow!

March in North Dakota...  It can either be 70 degrees or -10!  This winter we've had a few good days of snow storms with even a blizzard or two.  Most people right now are talking about how tired they are of winter and how ready they are for spring!  It's the first day of Spring, anyway!  Where's the sunshine and tulips?! 

Well, our family dances to our own beat, I guess.  I told the kids today that we're supposed to get another 2-4 inches of snow in the next day or two...  Whoo-hoo!!  They were so excited!  They even wish we'd get more snow.  Their sleds are ready.  Their snowpants are getting holes.  They're on their third or fourth hat of the season...  Our kids make the most of the snow!  Forts, slip n slides, snowball fights, snow angels, sledding.  One of our kids even made a snow baby who has since melted/broken away....   While they were playing in the last snowstorm, I heard one say that they wished it was more windy!?  Ha!  One hopes we get enough snow to swim in!  More snow!  We love snow.

Snow is like manna from heaven for us!  It's like God just dumps tons of white imagination in our yard and we bundle up and play hard, come in and drink tea and hot chocolate and snuggle down to a movie or some such thing.  So fun.

Their excitement got me to thinking.  Why does our family love snow when the others are ready for summer already?!  Why do I like the snow?  Well, for one thing, I like it because the kids love it and have so much fun imagining and playing together.  They play hard and come in ready to snuggle down together.  Good for everyone, right?

I also think I like the snow, and even the storm, because when we are all home and safe inside, we look out the window at the wild wind and the white flakes flying by and we sip our tea and hot chocolate.  It's crazy out and cozy in.  Kind of like the life of a Christian sometimes.

We can have crazy situations flying around us.  Moves, financial problems, broken down cars, family or kids issues...  Life is flying at us.  But we can retreat and sip some refreshment in the Word.  Refocus.  The Lord is a safe, quiet place in the middle of chaos.  We an sit back and look at the storm around us with His Word in our lap and know that we are protected and safe.  He sees us and He sees our storm.  And He is our refuge, our provider, our comfort.  He is the shelter in the storm. 

I am reading the book One in a Million by Priscilla Shirer and a line popped out at me the other day.  "Often when external blessing seems to elude us, internal spiritual gifts come tumbling our direction."  That seemed to tie in with my snow storm pondering.  When life looks like a a mess and we're left under a pile of snow, that can be the time that we receive the most from the Lord.  Or perhaps, that's when we look up and notice the most of the Lord's blessings?  This seems to be the time we grow the closest to Him.  Picture driving up in front of a house and through the whiteout, your eyes make out a glowing light coming through the window.  You run up, open the door, and take off your coat and foggy glasses.  Outside is crazy.  Inside is cozy.

I love being safe and warm in the middle of the storm.  Kind of like - In yo face, blizzard!  You can be wild and out of control and I'll sit here with my tea, and the Word, and watch you - knowing that God's got it all under control and takes care of me. 

Maybe we'll just go out and build a snowman in the morning!?


Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.