Prelude to Winter

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Psalm 51: 7

It's been nearly a month since the curtain closed on the spectacular performance of autumn here in the woods, and I knew it would only be a matter of time before frigid temperatures, long dark nights, and bitter winds appeared on the scene.  One gets rather spoiled by the fall season and the colorful show of the leaves as they shower the mountains with extraordinary color. In comparison, winter often can seem drab and dreary, and I have to admit that it is my least favorite time of the year. 

Over the weekend, we woke up to our first snowfall of the season. The drab brown trees were beautifully dressed in coats of sparkling snow, and that which had become barren and lifeless once again became beautiful.  This prelude to the soon coming winter months was a reminder that winter truly does have a beauty of its own. God certainly takes that which is common and turns it into something beautiful!

This made me ponder how we often experience "winter" seasons in our life and how long, depressing, and hopeless they can seem when in the midst of them. The trials we face often seem as daunting as the frigid temperatures and as unwelcome as the howling bitter winds that are part of the winter season. These seasons of difficulty can seem very dark indeed. Yet, it is often during these seasons of "winter" that God makes us more beautiful, as we draw nearer to Him and cling to His promises. 

Like the brilliant snow falling softly over the mountains, God's love and grace falls upon us,  making us beautiful! And just like the once dreary woods draws attention to its beauty when covered with freshly fallen snow, others will see the beauty of Christ in our lives, as we draw closer to Him and are covered abundantly with His grace and love.