Snow.

I've seen a ton of snow in the last few weeks. More than I've seen in a long time...probably since we lived in New York when I was little.Yet, today when I was walking around the school picking up kids to work with and noticed that it had begun snowing, I still stopped and marveled at how pretty it is. I've heard nothing but complaining about the snow since it started a couple weeks ago and people complain more and more with each week that we have delays or snow days.Honestly though, I still love snow. Is it a pain to drive in sometimes (ok most of the time)? Is is lame that we don't have school? Does it stink to work fewer hours because of it? Yes. Yes. Yes. But none of that cancels out my love for snow!Snow always makes me feel peaceful. Everything slows down when it snows. Snow has a way of bringing the beauty out of some very unattractive things!That aspect of snow reminds me of God's grace and forgiveness.“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool..."   Isaiah 1:18Snow can easily cover the ground, cars, houses, and anything else outside just like Christ's sacrifice covers our sins. Jesus' perfection wipes out our sin so we become white as snow. Snow is a beautiful reminder that no matter what happened in the past, no matter what mistakes we've made, no matter what kind of pain we've experienced, we can be made new   because of Christ, "the old has gone, the new is here!" Fresh, clean, untrampled snow is an example of how God sees his children when we repent and turn to him: pure, unblemished, and spotless lambs who he wants desperately to shepherd. All we have to do is follow his voice.  Now, go outside and play in the snow! Or make yourself  a nice warm cup of hot chocolate and enjoy the beautiful, snow-covered day God has given you!