Following one of the worst weeks of my life physically (due to our friend the flu...& did I mention it was my birthday too?), I got to spend a wonderful evening and then snowy next day with my hubby and babies. Growing up in west Texas, we occasionally had a bit of snow...generally on Easter or Halloween it seems, but nothing really major to speak of. The news reports were preparing Oklahoma for a blizzard. So needless to say, I was.....excited. I know crazy, but I've always wanted to witness that amazing creation of snow in a mass quantity. Thankfully, Stillwater didn't get the brunt of the storm so we got enough to be fun but not enough to be painful. We all went out every hour or so after it started snowing and marveled at the wet, white substance falling from the sky. (Hubby and I were like kids ourselves at this point)
Have I mentioned lately how amazing I think our God is? Just when we think things are awful, we get a little gift, a pick me up, a surprise that makes us smile. This is what the snow was for me. I know that not everyone feels this way, but for me it was perfect.
I had been so sick and felt alone...my parents and in-laws weren't here to help, all of my long time friends were back home, and the kids had no real choice but to stay around because there wasn't anywhere else to go. I've been so blessed with a wonderful husband who took care of myself and the little bug (she had flu too). He was amazing and even missed work 2 days for us. My love for that man is always growing! I also figured out that there are people here who will help when we need it...people who are becoming my friends. I am forever grateful for that.
After a quick trip home last weekend for a birthday celebration with my mom, grandmother and friends, I came back to Oklahoma to prepare for the blizzard. I must admit I was pretty homesick after leaving them again. Kinda down and out. Then came the snow. The beautiful snow that I had never seen like this before....the reminder that even though things are different, they are beautiful, special, and all apart of a path laid out for me by the God who takes the time to make each snowflake different. This brings to mind one of my most treasured passages of the Bible...which also happens to be an area in which I frequently struggle.
Matthew 6:25-34 NIV
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Dear Father,
Thank you for the snow, for the memories we made playing in it, for the displays of your love that are all around us. Please open my eyes and heart to the blessings around me instead of what I perceive as lacking. Grow these friendship seeds that you have planted here in Oklahoma to guide and fortify me. Help me to give my worry and control seeking to You. You've got this better planned than I could ever dream. Thank you for loving me even when I'm a little
PS~I firmly believe God has a sense of humor. :D
