How dreary thorns in flesh?
Russet hues in wintry light;
against dismal resting earth.
It’s here first snow appears;
scatters crystals among trees,
interrupts rioting leaves of fall.
Where comes storehouses of snow?
God binds them in unreachable homes;
unleashing flakes at His sovereign will.
A child sees first snow differently,
when mossy earth is laden white;
over, over, and over again anew.
Yet time will come, snow shall melt,
life’s bleakness fade; in last of days
and earth made new again, as snow.
“… no more death or mourning
or crying or pain, for the former
thing have passed away.”
Revelation 21:4
My eleven year old granddaughter shared a slice of wisdom with me the other day. I told her it was going to snow. She said, “Its first snow!” with a tone of excitement. “It already snowed this year,” I simply replied. “But it hasn’t snowed for awhile,” said she. Looking at the bare landscape I saw tawny trees, exposed earth, and stately green pine’s lack of decorations. It was then I understood the importance of snow to her. Let’s be reminded, as we struggle through the season of celebration, whatever came to one’s door unwelcome will one day pass away. Like melting snow, will disappear and all will be made new by a sovereign God.
Patti Wolf 