“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

Yesterday the East TN area where we live had a major snowstorm. A ‘snowmaggedon’ is you will. At our house we had over 12” of snow, much to the delight of all of us. It was and is beautiful.

Snowstorms are great metaphors of life. If you choose to be out driving in the snow, it becomes a storm. The falling snow challenges our abilities and causes us to focus and maybe fear. The driving in the storm causes the beauty of the new snow to become an obstacle to be overcome, fraught with danger and risk.

Alternately, if you choose to allow the fresh blanket to fall and watch and accept what is happening, the snow creates a new, clean, beautiful serene environment. Peace invades when we surrender to the event.

In the midst of yesterday’s snow, my son and I decided to venture out and pick his friend up so that he could come and spend time at our place. As we drove we began to see more and more cars in the ditch. Traffic on the Interstate was snarled and backed up. The roads were covered in snow causing me to comment to Benton that “I am usually pretty good at discernment and we should not be out in this storm!” God hears our cry when we are in the storm of our choosing.

Wow, I chose to leave the peace and tranquility of our home being blanketed with fresh and beautiful snow. I chose to enter the storm and assume the risk of the storm. I chose because I wanted to please my son. I chose because I believed in my abilities, rejecting that those abilities might not be enough to overcome the elements around me. I chose to do it on my own.

We made it! We picked up the friend and made it safely back to our property, only to be rejected by the hill that leads to our house. We made it to within 400 feet and had to abandon the car and walk the final distance. We made it to within sight of our destination, only to then fail. Yet, God delivered us.

I don’t know why God made this event to cause me to recognize the parallels to life that this fresh blanket of snow morphing into a storm because of my choices reflected. I chose to leave the beauty of this gift because I wanted more. I wanted to please my son who was already pleased. I chose to leave and put my son and me at risk. I chose to pursue a want when all I needed was already in the safety, warmth and joy of our home.

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 ESV

So as I write this morning, our home is full with our three kids and four of their friends. The one we chose to go and bring back with us. One who was here. And two neighbor kids. Each of these kids adding to the group and the joy of the event.

The friend that we chose to risk the ride to bring back makes us all laugh. The risk was worth the reward because he is a young man of God who sharpens our son. He brings laughter into our home. He brings joy. He reflects optimism and exudes thankfulness in every situation. His presence was worth the risk. God knew.

As we ate fried chicken, mac n cheese, green beans, fruit and homemade cookies yesterday evening, my heart was full. What could be better? The risk of the trip was rewarded by our loving Father with our home filled with amazing young people reflecting joy in the moment and optimism for the future.

So the recognition for me in yesterday’s events was of God’s love in the fresh, clean blanket of snow and how he made my life new. That I choose to pursue things that put the peace and joy of my relationship with him at risk for too many times, selfish purposes. That the beauty of my new heart and life becomes tarnished and scared when my choices create risk in my relationship with him. That even when I choose in the moment what is counterintuitive to relationship with him, he loves and watches over me. That he delights to deliver the desires of my heart. That he loves me more than I can fathom. That his Grace and Mercy knows no bounds. That he abides in me and allows me to abide in him.

And that my friend, is so much more than enough.

“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.” Psalm 127:3-5 NLT

You’ve got this. Stay warm.