“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.” Psalm 143:8
Oh the glory of the unexpected snowfall at the start of our morning. Oh the wonder for my youngest to be peering at the snow and to also spot a hawk in the barren tree in our backyard. I had started this day, with the verse above. Also, knowing my energy was low wondering what this day would be about, as I knew it wouldn’t be a regular day of studies. The snow… the hawk… the wonder… sweet sips of my warm cup of coconut milk with turmeric and prayers of a friend, my energy came.
We headed out for a walk in the winter wonder land . As my Maximus sang “it’s the most wonderful time of the year”.
We just went. Without a plan, except to embrace the beauty and goodness of this gift of life God has given us.
Maximus decided to roll the snow as we went. The ball became bigger and bigger. Each boy holding and Isaac suggesting it wasn’t that heavy at all, while Maximus insisted it was very heavy. Bring in math time. They each estimated the weight. Maximus: 60 lbs. Isaac: 1 lb. How would we find out results? They would decide to carry it all the way home and get it on the scale.
A good mile they carried this load. Back and forth they went taking turns. Gloves now sopping wet, freezing hands. Maximus muscles hurting. Isaac’s hands hurting from cold.
At one point, I paused trying to come up with some plan as to how we could ease their “suffering”… when my Isaac my Pediatric Stroke Survivor said the most awesome words. “figure out another way? (as he manned up and took back that snowball with determination) there is no other way. The only way to do this, is to keep moving forward. And move forward as fast as you can and get this job done. I mean, it’s not like we have a shopping cart nearby by to make this easier”.
Enters hysterical laughter on my part. For those of you that know Isaac, he is quiet, reserved, and doesn’t always show emotion. When he does, it is the most amazing thing to see and hear. Not to mention, his shopping cart thought just hit me really funny. You might have to be me and know my son, but the determination and words together just brought me to joyful laughter. That laughter that makes your stomach hurt. And then made him laugh hard too. He was going to get this done. Not stopping to find an easier way, let’s just do it. Endure and get there. (no shopping cart required – LOL!!).
So we made it to the home stretch and made it all the way home…
with a giant snowball…
That we brought into the house, placed in the freezer until we warmed up,
Then, pulled back out and weighed…
discovered it was 12 pounds.
Enjoyed hot cocoa with peppermint candies.
And read this wonderful verse to reflect on about SNOW, BIRDS (the hawk in our backyard), everything is to the praise and glory of God.
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you creatures of the ocean depths,
fire and hail, snow and clouds,
wind and weather that obey him,
mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all livestock,
small scurrying animals and birds,
kings of the earth and all people,
rulers and judges of the earth,
young men and young women,
old men and children.
Psalm 148:7-13
They now play scrabble for spelling. As BROTHER comes on the radio. Maximus declares. Brother Isaac. “I need to turn this up. This is OUR SONG!”