Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts…. They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. Psalm 145:3-4,7
Macy couldn’t believe it. It was supposed to be spring, wasn’t it? And yet here she was once again stuck inside the house as the winter that wouldn’t go away dumped another round of snow on her part of the country. They were already scheduled to attend school longer at the end of the year since they had used up all their allotted snow days. This would just add one more day.
Reluctantly, Macy crawled out of bed. She could hear the excited voices of her younger brother and sister in the kitchen, talking about the snowman they were going to make and the snow fort they were going to build. They didn’t care about extra days or cold weather. They were just looking forward to the blessing of another snow day off from school and all the fun things they were going to do with it.
Even her mom was excited about the snow. Macy knew it meant missing another day of work and another small paycheck at the end of the month for her. She knew it meant endless rounds of buttoning and zipping and wrapping as her little brother and sister trudged in and out of the house. She knew it meant Mom would be doing several extra loads of laundry today. Yet there she sat, buttering pancakes, pouring milk, answering excited voices with enthusiasm.
“Macy!” her little brother yelled as she came into the kitchen. “Mom has a great idea for a new snow fort. We’re going to use those big boxes out in the garage for walls. And see that big drift in the corner over there? That’s the perfect spot for a snow fort. We can play out there all day! Mom’s going to help. Will you help, too?”
Macy had to smile at his enthusiasm but told him she was just going to stay inside today and find a good book to read. As the morning wore on and the snow continued to fall, Macy watched out the back window as the snow fort took shape. By the mid-morning cocoa break, it had been constructed. As the dryer hummed with wet mittens and hats, her little brother tried to talk her into coming outside with them once again. “Just because it’s cold and snowy, doesn’t mean we can’t have fun. And we got an extra day off school. How can you not be happy with that?”
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NLT)
Mom shared a look with Macy. She remembered talking with Mom about the family situation and how it just seemed like nothing good was ever going to happen. Mom reminded Macy of how the Lord has so many blessings, even in the midst of adversity. How it might seem like nothing was happening, but that the Lord was always at work for their family – touching hearts, changing lives, drawing Dad to Himself. How even though it seemed like this would last forever, this trial would end some day and they would all be better for having gone through it. Macy remembered Mom’s instructions – look for the blessings.
She peered out the kitchen window at the snow fort. It really was kind of neat. And it wasn’t snowing as hard as it had been earlier. “Why not!” she thought to herself, as she joined her family in bundling up for another trek outside. They spent the rest of the morning in the snow fort, telling stories, sharing jokes, talking about the long winter and the spring that was sure to come.
On her last trip into the house for the day, Macy spotted something yellow in a patch of the yard where the snow was not as deep. Coming closer, she saw that it was a dandelion, poking its bright yellow head above a thin layer of snow. Macy smiled because she knew it was a promise from God. A promise that this winter would not last forever and spring WAS on its way. And a promise for her family that this season would not last forever. That God was at work right now bringing their spring.
Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. Joshua 21:45
God bless
A Stander in Nebraska
