Snowflakes, hot chocolate and cold feet!

I’m sitting here at my kitchen table looking out into the backyard, I have been gazing up every few minutes just to collect my thoughts, slowly I see a speck of white here…then there, then over there, oh here too! Next thing I know, IT’S SNOWING! It amazes me how it can be clear, no rain, no wind, just a little cooler than yesterday, but no snow for weeks and then here it comes.  Snow is so calm, it doesn’t need a big entrance like thunder or downpour like rain to catch your attention.  Nope, snow arrives with simple speck here or there, which leads to more, and then even more specks of white that fall straight to ground (and then disappear of course).  Looking at snow for me is so calming.  Even as a child (and now too) when I am up in Ohio, there can be 8 inches of snow on the ground at night with blowing winds on back roads that haven’t seen a plow or salt truck, and something about the steady constant white on black gentle streamish flow gives me a peace that blocks out any fear that i may have otherwise had in that type of weather. 

Looking at this snow now I picture a time in the future when my daughter (who is 11 months old, and napping currently) will be able to come up to me and excitedly tell me it’s snowing and ask to go play in the snow.  I can’t help but smile, and picture her out there trying to catch snowflakes on her tongue, dancing around without a care in the world.  She hopes it will stick so her and daddy can make a snowman, or snow angels when he gets home from work, oh how fun!  I’ll have hot chocolate ready when they come in, and listen intently as she tells me about their time outside.

 It also makes me thankful for the slight chill in my toes as I sit in this chair, very thankful it’s ONLY a slight chill, and that I can turn the thermostat up, or put socks on.  My heart breaks for another mother who may be also looking out her window to her backyard, which may or may not have grass, but it certainly has no room for running or playing.  She may see this snow and wonder how she is going to keep her kids warm if they want to play in it (which they shouldn’t even be out because of the neighborhood she lives in).  Then what about tonight, that cold chill she feels is more than in her toes, and it is going to get worse- will she have enough blankets for them?  Maybe she can ignore the cold so her baby can be warm, yes that’s what she’ll do!  Hopefully this snow won’t stick and her husband will find work again soon, her pantry is empty and she hates hearing her children say they are hungry.  Nope, there’s no calm for her when she sees snow, it’s more of an anxious “will we get through this?” type feeling. 

Most of you reading this are probably where I am, able to turn the heat up, (even though the electric bills have skyrocketed), but I am certain there is something in your life, maybe your child(ren)’s life that has you shaken.  Well, remember beautiful mother, this too shall pass.  Psalm 3:3-6 says “But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.  To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill.  I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.  I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up again me on every side.”  Be strong sweet mother, the Lord has a plan for your and your sweet babies.  I don’t know the pain, because I have never been in your shoes, but my heart yearns for comfort and peace for you! I am praying for you, even though I do not know you and may never meet you- I will pray MANY blessings for you.