Snow Fell On Alabama

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

I woke up this morning to what I think is the most beautiful, peaceful scene in the world – an Alabama snowfall. When I was a young boy we seemed to have snows of this sort 2 or 3 times a year. Now whether because of global warming or whatever, it seems we only get days like this 2 or 3 times a decade. As a kid, I would first go out with my Dad and my sister to build a snowman, and then Mom would call us in to eat some snow cream. That would be it for family time. My parents and my sister would then go about their own lives inside, while I would disappear outside to play with my friends for the rest of the day. Seems then I could stand the cold for hours on end, now my old body is more than ready for a toasty fire after just 30 minutes or so of the cold, white beauty.

I cannot express the peace I felt this morning, so different than my normal days of living constantly on the edge. This morning we sat by a roaring fire, drinking hot chocolate, watching the snow fall, and enjoying the children across the street building a snowman. A little later we bundled up and went for a long walk in the pouring snow taking pictures along the way in hopes of reliving the peace of this day at a later time. Now after having had a nice brunch at the Tron, I’m relaxing in my easy chair contemplating the few hours of peace this beautiful day brought into my life. How thankful I am of these few moments of respite from the daily worries we all have to face.

Peace of heart, peace of mind, something we all hope for, but so often find almost impossible to attain. I find days where I am truly at peace to be as rare as snow in Alabama. I am truthfully not sure why I spend so many of my days and nights worrying not only about the mistakes I have made in the past, but those I fear I will make in the future. I spend hours trying to make even the simplest decisions. I pray daily for the ability to understand my own mind, my own heart.

Well the afternoon is racing along, the sun is shining brightly, the snow will be completely gone soon, and the real world will come crashing back down on us. I go now to enjoy the rest of this beautiful day, so thankful to God for the peace I have felt today. There will be time enough tomorrow for me to return to my worries and fears, today I will simply enjoy the peace which certainly passeth my understanding.