As I stood at my kitchen sink today gazing out at the beautiful patches of green, the verse popped into my mind: “The LORD gives and the LORD takes away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” – Job 1:21
The excitement of a snowfall is somewhat like the excitement of going on vacation. It’s exciting and fun to look forward to vacation! It’s exciting and fun to leave … and to go far away, to someplace completely different!
But after a while, it’s also really nice to come back home again. Home sweet home.
A snowfall is much the same. It’s tremendously exciting and fun to look forward to a snowfall! It’s exciting and fun when those first flakes start falling! … and when they start transforming the grey dismal barren world outside into a beautiful white wonderland!
But after a while, it’s also really nice when the snow goes away.
Ahhhh … patches of green!
Patches of green shrubs
Brilliant sunshine gently melting patches of green!
It has brought me so much joy to watch the snow ever-so-gradually fading away this week, bit by bit.
Our temps have been in the low 20’s* … causing the snow to freeze. Yet the days have been delightfully sunny with temps. rising up to 40*. Just enough to melt patches of green.
There have been such contrasts of color! Especially with it being the middle of winter (when everything is usually dark and grey and dismal). Brilliant white … contrasted against vibrant green … contrasted against a bright blue sky … balanced out by muted earthy browns.
What a gift! Thank you God for eyes to see!
Thank you God for patches of green!
“Patches of green” sounds a lot like “pastures of green.”
As I’ve watched the patches of green appear, I’ve found myself thinking of sheep. Psalm 23:1 says that the Lord Jesus Christ is my shepherd … and that he provides, for me, green pastures.
Just like this patch of green right here … I can imagine a hungry sheep being happy to find such a nice patch of green to graze.
But … the “pasture” has been covered over with snow for the last week. If the Bible compares me to a sheep … and the Bible says that Jesus Christ is my good shepherd, I can imagine myself as a sheep raising my little sheep hoof in the air to ask my shepherd a question:
“Ummm, Jesus, those sheep down there in those pastures in the valley, they haven’t had to deal with all this snow like I have up here on this hill. They’ve had plenty of green pastures to graze in this whole week. While I’ve been stuck up here in this pasture that’s all covered over with snow.”
“Jesus, I don’t think it’s fair that all those sheep down there in the valley have such good pastures to graze in … while my pasture has been covered over in snow. I don’t really like this pasture you’ve put me in, Jesus.”
And I can imagine my good shepherd Jesus answering me, a sheep, with: “I put you in this pasture on purpose. I want you right here in this pasture on purpose.”
As a sheep, I respond: “But Jesus, their pasture is better than my pasture. They haven’t had to put up with snow covering up their pasture. And I have! That’s just not fair.”
And my good shepherd answers me: “I’ve provided for you haven’t I?”
“Well, yes … come to think of it, yes Jesus, you have.”
My good shepherd continues: “You haven’t lacked for food have you?”
“Well … come to think of it, no I haven’t gone hungry.”
My good shepherd continues: “Those sheep down there in those pastures in the valley have to deal with things which you don’t have to. When the winter rains come, their pastures get flooded. Their pastures are completely submerged under water. You don’t have to deal with that.”
“Well, Jesus, I hadn’t thought about it like that. I wouldn’t really want my pasture to be flooded and underwater.”
My good shepherd continues: “I have those sheep down there in those pastures on purpose. For a reason. Those sheep are exactly where I want them to be. And you, my little sheep, I have you up here on this hill in this pasture on purpose. I have “planted” you right here. Right here in this pasture. This place right here is exactly where I want you to be.”
My shepherd is good … and kind … and loving. Both down in the valley, as well as up here on this hill there are cougars/mountain lions. And there are bears. In the bitter cold of dark nights, when I hear the “crunch, crunch, crunch” of something stepping through the frozen snow, out there in the woods … I don’t have to be afraid. My good shepherd will protect me. My good shepherd will take care of me!
“When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; … for in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in his shelter.” – Psalm 27:2-3, 5
“Rescue me, O LORD from evil men; protect me from men of violence, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers in on their lips.
“Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from men of violence who plan to trip my feet.” – Psalm 140:1-4
This “pasture” right here … this is exactly where my good shepherd has “planted” me and this is exactly where my good shepherd wants me to be.
That “pasture” where you are … that “pasture” is exactly where the good shepherd, Jesus Christ, has “planted” you and that is exactly where he wants you to be.
Jesus, our good shepherd will provide “patches of green” … pastures of green for us!
Jesus, our good shepherd, will protect us!
Jesus, our good shepherd will take care of us!
