Grace Like Rain, Ice, and Snow

While I stood smiling, watching Mike and the girls having fun in the snow today, it struck me just what a grace-gift this pre-spring snowstorm was to our family. Think about it with me… a precious little person was torn from the place that she’s tried to make home for the past five months and was “transplanted” into our unfamiliar home.

Have you ever spent the night with strangers? Did you find it comfortable? Did you know where all the important light switches were? Did you know where to find a fresh roll of toilet paper? A clean towel? Was your pillow comfortable? Did you know if and when you were going to receive a meal? What if you got hungry between meals and wanted a snack? Did you know where you were expected to put your shoes? How loudly you should speak? Whether you were expected to clear your place at the table… I think you get the idea. Now try to imagine being four-and-a-half and ALONE in the home of those strangers. Nice strangers, but strangers none-the-less. Strangers with a completely unfamiliar routine and way of doing things.

Well, that’s the confusion that our new little addition has been wading through this weekend. And then along comes a big, exciting snowstorm. A snowstorm that allows opportunity for two little girls to roll around in the snow and throw snowballs at each other. A storm that allows our new little one to throw snowballs at her new Mama and see her Mama laugh, scream, and run away in mock horror. A storm that allows her new Papa to playfully throw shovels full of snow at her and her new big sister. A snowstorm that allows her to relax. To laugh. And to have some good ol’ fashioned fun.

God is so good. He knows just what we need when we need it. I am certain the storm this weekend caused a number of people some real adversity and I do feel for them. But that same storm allowed for growth and healing to begin in our home and I am more thankful to the Lord for that than I can even begin to express.

“God thunders with His voice wondrously, doing great things which we cannot comprehend. For to the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong…’ Out of the south comes the storm, and out of the north the cold. From the breath of God ice is made, and the expanse of the waters is frozen. Also with moisture He loads the thick cloud; He disperses the cloud of His lightning. It changes direction, turning around by His guidance, that it may do whatever He commands it on the face of the inhabited earth. Whether for correction, or for His world, or for lovingkindness, He causes it to happen.” — Job 37:6, 9-13