On a cold, blustery day like this one, I like to remember the better days of winter...
We nestle in white powder snow beneath grey afternoon clouds. I watch her scoop snow into her plastic shovel and dump it into a Tonka truck. My eyes grow heavy as I watch him push a yellow metal loader through snow piles. My shoulders sag beneath invisible weight. My little ones play, unaware it is nap time. I lay on the snow, close my eyes. Loader wheels squeak. Swish-a-swash Swish-a-swash. Snow pants rub as she walks. Snow sprays on my forehead as boots approach and she shovels snow onto my legs. "I'm covering you, mommy!" She laughs.
The fresh air is cool and moves. It wafts towards my cheeks, then away. It tenderly floats across my nose. A smile crosses my face. Only now do I realize that out here, beneath clouds, I can feel air. In my house, our manufactured temperature lacks the fresh movement only God can create. He didn't just give us oxygen - he made it move. It touches me. It caresses my face, entices my nose with endless scents and, a strong wind even wraps its arms around me.
My son lays silent beside me, inches from my face. I open my eyes and we gaze at each other, smiling. His blue eyes dance with joy. This moment, God is here smiling with us. We're rich and blessed to share this - to lay on soft snow and breathe.
I've got a bit of tunnel vision recently, with the book launch coming up in two days.. so i thought I'd repost this. This story is where the book cover graphic is from...
While I believe that God is active in our lives everyday, I'm hard pressed to point out examples. I hate scratching my head at the end of the day, wondering, "Did I even see God today?" I pray that God opens my eyes to His presence so I can see Him everyday.
Here's one example of what I mean.
Sunday morning, in preparation for the Sunday School song and story time, I collected props from my yard. To illustrate God's glorious creations, and how we can experience it with our five senses, I clipped twigs with leaf buds peeking. I snuck little green flower buds, snips of juniper and globe cedar and collected rocks from the driveway. I looked at my handful and was disappointed that all I found was green or grey. I scanned the yard for more.
I wish I could find just one flower to show the color God creates.
As soon as I thought it, I rounded the corner of my house. My jaw dropped as I gasped. There it stood - right between the two shrubs I'd already clipped from. One dazzling tulip had bloomed. I knew God had provided this flower for our class. I was amazed that He cared about such things. We could have done without it. I could have illustrated the point a different way - but God provided His own creation in His time.
It gets better. ..
On the way to church, the tulip opened wider and bigger and was fully opened for our class. I wondered if maybe something special would happen with the flower in class, but nothing did. (that I know about anyway) We took the flower home after, and it became the stunning centerpiece for our dinner table.
Then it closed! Within a few hours it was closed. I put it in the sun, but to no avail. It had made its appearance.
This morning, I told a friend this story and minutes later I said . .. it might be my imagination, but I think it's opening ...
Later this morning, when I returned from a grocery shopping trip, I came home to a fully opened tulip.
What a great surprise.
God is active in my life everyday - in my relationships, my heart, even in my flower garden. I pray he continues to give me eyes to see it.
