I woke up this morning to a beautiful world of wintry whiteness outside my windows. As I stood at my kitchen sink fixing breakfast, the thought popped into my head: “Their snow is better than my snow.”
It was such an absurd thought that it took me completely off guard, and I almost laughed out loud.
You see, I have been on the social media platform of Substack for 2 ½ months now. I’m not one for social media, typically. When I first joined Substack, it was mid-November just as the beautiful season of Fall leaf color was ending. I was somewhat surprised to see post after post after post of everyone showing off “their” beautiful leaf colors! It almost seemed as if everyone was saying: “My colored leaves are better than your colored leaves. Please, everyone, please ‘like’ my colored leaves!”
I know this is totally “normal” when it comes to social media, but I am never on social media. So it struck me as somewhat comical. This earth belongs to God. God established the seasons – yes, the season of Fall with the beautiful leaf-changing colors. God did that. The fact that all over the world leaves are turning spectacular brilliant colors – that belongs to God. And that is God’s gift to humankind … for us to enjoy. It is a gift. It’s God’s gift to us.
I could just imagine God sitting up in Heaven laughing at everyone trying to “one-up” everyone else, showing off “their” leaf colors which were “better-than” everyone else’s leaf colors. And I could imagine God thinking of us frail humans: “You all are so adorable.”
“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” – Psalm 24:1
“The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.” – Psalm 2:4
So now we come to January and February … the time when the earth takes a break and snow falls. It’s God’s earth. God established the seasons – yes, the season of winter when He causes snow to fall on the earth.
“He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’ … The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.” – Job 37:6, 10
All across the world snow is falling, landscapes are being transformed into wintry wonderlands … and people are responding in awe and wonder! People are going out to photograph the beautiful scenes of winter: wintry snowscapes, ice on rivers & lakes, fallen leaves encased ice, various ice formations in fantastic patterns, birds with their gorgeous showy colors highlighted against the snow, etc. etc. …
Humanity can’t help but respond in awe and delight to God’s wonders of creation. God created us, on purpose, to be in awe of His glory revealed in nature! God’s amazing creation gives us just a tiny taste of what a magnificent and wonderful and creative and powerful God He is!
And so, people can’t help but respond … my Substack newsfeed is full of photos after photos after photos of gorgeous snowy wintry scenes! Which, of course, I can’t help but ‘like’ all of them! God’s beauty revealed through His creation is fantastic!
Then … God sends me my own gift of snow. This gift is from God, specifically for me. (and for “my people” here in this PNW corner of the world)
I look out my dining room window as I’m sipping my hot coco for breakfast … and I’m delighted by the snow on the ferns and the mossy cedar trunk!
I love the snow on the raspberry vines!
I love the snow on the ferns … and the gracefully drooping cedar tree!
I love the snow on the birdbath … and did I mention, I love the snow on the ferns!
I love the snow on the ferns!
I’m filled with so much joy and delight over God’s gift … for me! This is God’s gift to me. I don’t have to feel bad that “my snow isn’t as good as their snow.” This is God’s gift to me … to tell me how much He loves me! So that I can delight in Him! So that I can praise Him! So that I can worship Him for how amazing and wonderful He is!
I love the snow on the tiny Douglas Fir sapling!
I love the little “cap” of snow on the leaning path-light.
Thank you God for your wonderful gifts that you give us each and every day! Thank you God that we don’t need to compare your gifts to us with the gifts which you give everyone else.
Thank you God for the rare, glorious gift of a stunning sunrise which you surprise me with every now and then when I’m not expecting it … that’s my gift. That’s just for me. And “them” … all those people in all those other places all around the world, and their sunrises which they get to enjoy … that’s their gift. You gave that to them.
I don’t have to feel bad about the gift you gave to them; I don’t have to feel as if my gift isn’t as good as their gift which you gave to them. You love us all! You give good gifts to us all!
I simply need to focus on Your good gifts to me. And be grateful for your love and the beautiful gifts you bless me with, each and every day!
I love you God! Thank you for being so good to us! Thank you for your amazing, beautiful gifts!
