This morning I awoke to a beautiful covering of snow. From my balcony, the view was stunning; trees laden and still. Not a branch was troubled by wind and the few remaining leaves hung in perfect form.
Not everyone loves snow the way I do. Winter has always been my favourite season. As a small child, I would stand at our kitchen window, amazed and delighted when viewing the first snowfall of the year. And now, many years later, I feel the same sense of wonder and awe. To me, a snowfall is a gift from God. In Job 38:22 God asks Job “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail . . .?” What a lovely truth to know that God has storehouses filled with snow, in waiting for that special moment when it will be released to cover the earth.
I often think that not only does it cover any scars on our earth, but to me it symbolizes how the blood of Jesus covers us, so our sinful parts are no longer visible. God’s pictures are unique and perfect.
Many of my friends and family will now begin the countdown to spring, when snow will no longer be an issue and nature will show signs of life after a winter hibernation. There is something special about the return of spring. Although I love winter, spring holds a joy as well. The pale greens of spring awaken something within us; we joyfully set aside our boots, gloves, scarves, jackets and revel in the warmer air.
Isn’t life like that, too? We have seasons of grief, sickness, loss, anger, fear and a multitude of other human situations. But these too, often pass, or lessen in intensity and we experience a new spring in our lives.
I love the passage in Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 NIV:
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
And just as winter gives way to spring, summer follows. A time of warmth, leisure, relaxation, vacations. A time to re-group before fall is upon us and we take up our workload once again.
And so the cycle continues, a cycle designed by God and enjoyed by man. For those of you who do not enjoy winter, take heart; for every one day of winter, you are one day closer to spring.
Enjoy what each season brings. Embrace the cold weather, the cleansing snow, the approach of Christmas. Get outdoors. Fill your lungs with the clear, bracing air. Dust off your skates, polish your skis, get the sleds out of the garage. Or make yourself a cup of tea, light the fireplace and take joy in the coziness.
Enjoy what this season has to offer.
It is designed by God for our delight.
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