A Blanket Of Snow And Relationship

A Blanket Of Snow And Relationship ~

This past Saturday to our wonderful surprise, it arrived, a beautiful soft white delicate cottony blanket of pure snow. It was not earth shattering merely a good three-inch covering but it was just enough. I love to watch the reaction the first snow brings. First is the scurry to the window to take in the beauty as the puffs of snow rest atop the tree branches and surfaces. The hurriedness is important so you’re sure to see it before it has been disrupted by footprints or the frolicking of excited snow enthusiasts.

Snowfall to me is so wonderful because it brings so many feelings and emotions every single time. One is the brisk fresh air inhaled that for some reason because it is cold and surrounded by the fluffy white crystal like masterpieces’ makes the air seem cleaner and so refreshing, even though the same pollutants of the cars and factories may be nearby. I suppose it is the whiteness, the cleanness, and the newness, which creates that cool, crackly, crisp and spotless feeling.

The second is the emotion it brings as we actually huddle to make plans for the special day. These emotions have past memories intertwined in each thought or request that is evoked for the latest snow event. For example first, we will play in it, then enjoy a nice cup of hot cocoa, finally a distinct plan to come together with family or friends and share a meal or a movie or a good old board game. Basking in the warmth of a smoldering fireplace as we imagine an icy glass menagerie being formed as the wind gently whips and molds magical pieces in the outdoor wonderland.

The third and most curious is the eagerness to work. The neighborhood comes alive with folks out shoveling or snow blowing; a good friend arrives with a plough and a random act of kindness that eases the snow removal. Younger people keep an eye out for the older folks to be sure they get their needs met in the aftermath of the snowfall. The snow brings a sense of community family and friendship just merely by falling into place. I find the snowfalls so special because regardless of what was occurring in your household prior to the swirly flakes being scattered, be it your routines, disagreements due to life’s stress, battling the latest bug or cold, playful bickering, or lack of motivation it just does not matter anymore because the snow changes everything. Your adrenaline comes into play and there is always something new different and special about that day. Snow makes us react whether we like it or not, either way we have to respond.

Marriage and all relationships such as with family and friends are like a beautiful snowfall whimsical with the delight of newness and when fresh it is light and airy and fun. Once it is trampled on a little bit it shows some of the neglect and dirt that can mingle into the clean white flakes. What’s so special about the snow is that it brings people together. It forces people to take care of their property and the surrounding areas. The idea of snow puts everyone on alert to prepare for the upcoming storm. When the storm comes, its beauty, while at the same time frustrated by the potential for danger and the disruption it can cause our plans, will undoubtedly mesmerizes us just the same. We are so blissful at the thought of this fresh blanket that covers all the little defects in our world.

I pose this scenario as the snow makes me think about relationships and marriages. It is impossible to not notice how under attack relationships and marriages are these days. Everywhere you turn in a grocery store or on the world news a seemingly sturdy marriage or a brand new relationship is breaking up. I place relationships with friends and young people, adults to seniors in this category as well. If in a relationship of any kind the truth is it will be light and airy with lots of fluff and beauty when it is in its infancy. It will for a time have a beautiful blanket of newness and it will be amazing. Then eventually each of our relationships can and will come under attack. We question is it worth it to work at clearing away the disruption or focusing on the neglect which has caused it to be marked with the weathering of a storm. I believe our relationships are worth at least as much attention as we give to a snowstorm.

I believe we could all learn to be more motivated in our relationships with each other and with God. When things are light and fluffy we can relax and take in the beauty and enjoy the thrill of new direction. I just have to say that even when a relationship goes through terrible storms, some due to outside unpredictable forces and some due to minor neglects that can slowly mount up, like piles of unwanted dark snow in a parking lot, they are still worth the effort. We all fall victim to the idea of “this is getting slushy and I wish it would just go away.” Then it is a quick slippery slope to, “oh it will eventually melt I will just ignore it for awhile.”

It will melt, but if we do not stay curious as to why it has lost focus or why is it not so easy anymore and how we can work to getting to the bottom of the slush, we will miss the history. When we pay close attention to the history and discuss the good and bad alike we start the process of creating a new story yet to be shared.

I say NO, DON’T GIVE UP at least not on all your relationships. Wait for the dark snow to melt add a little elbow grease at clearing it away. Realize that anything worth having is worth renewing. There are no perfections in people and relationships. There is however unconditional understanding and guidance from God and our relationship with Him is the one we must continue to perfect. I think if when things go hazy as they will with the stresses of life in all areas of our relationships, with spouses, friends, significant others, children, teens, teachers, people in authority. we will buckle under pressure. When we buckle we lose our balance we even stumble.

I know for a fact, God is there in those moments. He wants to pick you up, brush you off and head you back to the pile in the parking lot. Then He is going to help you clear it. He will do this by making it known what He wants for you to do, if we just listen or pay attention. He may bring the answers from the person or thing you least expect, in fact count on that. The tactic or method may be confusing and even scary and often not as you imagined. It may be time consuming and at points seem ridiculous, but clarity comes at the bottom of the pile. There is extreme JOY in tracking a storm together and then even getting bounced around a bit as long as we get back on course. Going through it fighting for love and trust and understanding. Even accepting and forgiving when you just do not understand the what’s or why’s. Why does God want me angry? Why did God change things up like this? What does God want from me? Why does God want me to face this particular challenge or issue? What does God expect me to do when someone treats me like this or that?

God does for us every day, every hour, every minute. If we want to be even a snowflakes worth of His beautiful blanket for someone else we must trust Him and do as He would do for any of us. We will fight the weather report, we will try and run from it, shelter from it and even pretend it is not happening, we will decide our interpretation of God’s WILL rather then facing the trueness of His expectation, but ultimately going through it with Him at our side and trusting His message is such a gift.

I surely will need reminding of what God wants for and from my life, as will we all. I do know if we seek Him together in our relationships, all of our relationships, it will be beautiful. I know the most important thing is for me myself and I to focus on my relationship with God my Father first and foremost. I know that by looking inward to my heart and reflecting that heart to His word is the only way, truth and light for my future. When I reach a stumbling block I know where to go for solace and answers and yet at times I kick and scream first. I even cry to the point of release and near giving up at times. I must also say so for every time in my life that this has happened, He has swooped right into that door that I am so briskly trying to close on HIM. I may have even pinched His toes a few times in my stubborn refusal to listen to His plan. He still allows me my faults and forgives me and loves me. I am most grateful for His grace and forgiveness. I am pleased that God reminds me to take ownership of my wrong doings in my relationships with all those I meet and of course those I love. I have been blessed by God to have a relationship with a man who is a quiet observer of life. He is humble in his disposition and forgiving of any finger pointing I may have ever done out of silliness and stress. We communicate passionately both in love and in war at times. The passion in love is well self explanatory he is my soul mate given to me by God. The passion in war however is a different animal. We are like yokes but with very distinctive personalities. We both have great strengths and great weaknesses. We are painfully aware after some twenty-two years together to know how to push buttons. We also have come through enough storms to know how to build each other up, continue to learn about one another as if it is a new snowfall and admit that we need to go to God together often to be convicted in what is pleasing to HIM. At least when clearing away the slush together it gives us an opportunity to struggle to get a goal met and when the reward of the work comes it will be like receiving the beautiful spring bouquet and the new season starting all over with a smile.

Below read James 1:1-27 The Bible SAYS

James 1

New International Version (NIV)

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes scattered among the Nations: Greetings.

Trials and Temptations 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. 12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.

Listening and Doing ~19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

GOD BLESS ~ Your Stages :)