For those that know me, you know winter has been my least favorite season. Growing up in Ohio, I'm no stranger to cold temperatures and snow. It took me a long time to realize that not everyone is "blessed" with snow. Oh how I wished and wished that I had been so fortunate. Give me the warmth of the sunshine and warm temperatures anytime over the cold dreary days of an Ohio winter. Sigh... why o' why do we have to have four seasons? Winter to me was a time of shutting down, piling on warm layers of clothing, eating more than I should, moving around less than I should and overall just a cloud of sadness covering me. I just could never figure out why every winter I became ready to become a bear versus a human...afterall; hibernation sure sounded good to me on those cold nights!
Something changed this year though, still not a big winter fan, but I guess you can say I've begun to appreciate what winter has to offer. This winter we were in awe of some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets backed against a blanket of white snow. Vivid oranges, purples, reds and yellows bursting across the sky. People started snapping pictures of God's incredible artwork and posting their shots all over Facebook. It reminded me of Psalm 19:1... "the skies proclaim the work of his hands." WOW, all of nature sings of the glory of God.
Let's not forget the snow... oh my goodness, so white, so pure, so breathtaking as it glistened on the tree branches and bushes across the lawns. For some reason, I took the time this year to really look at the different snow flakes... how often have I taken for granted the uniqueness of a single fallen flake, handcrafted by God himself? "The heavens declare the glory of God". We seemed to have had a number of times this year that we had strangely large flakes, much larger than I have ever seen before (perhaps because I wasn't looking). The design work in each, how could something so small be so detailed and create such beauty?
The more I saw winter for the beauty that it brought, far different than any other season for me, the more I began thanking God for four seasons. I thank him that he sees fit to give us beauty in all seasons and creates a uniqueness in nature that none can duplicate. As many pictures as I saw this past winter of the sunsets or the trees covered in the beautiful white snow, none of them could compare to the real thing... standing with the slight sting of the crisp cold air against my face before God's creation. A creation he gave us as a precious gift. God could have chosen to leave us at just a single season, but instead he gave us four. He gave us a season to plant, to grow, to harvest and to rest. God knew as he formed creation that we'd need these seasons in our life. Some places don't get to see the vast differences of weather, but they still have seasons... seasons come no matter how they look.
I think I've begun to see myself as a snowflake of sorts. Not because I'm flaky (I probably am to some degree) but because I am a unique work done by the creator's hand. I am a creation so small, so detailed by my very genetic design. Look at all that it takes to form a single human being, let alone take into account the twins, triplets, etc. born that although look so much alike, are so very unique and detailed by the artist of all creation. Nature in itself can cause me to stand still and slightly take my breath away as it surrounds me with all the glory of God's works.
What do you need to see this season? Have you, like me, been so focused on the "ugly" of a season of life that you failed to stop and recognize the work of God's hands? Have you recognized how very small you are in this vast universe and yet, how very important every unique detail of you matters to God? You are one of God's most beloved creations. He loves us enough to give us four seasons; a time to plant, grow, harvest and rest. How blessed are we that we have winter; a time to rest. How blessed are we to have such an Awesome God?
Under His Wings,
Heather
