The snow hit us hard this winter. It snowed and snowed some more. And more. And again, more.
And all the time the snow was falling, I kept thinking: “Will it ever stop? I’m tired of it, now. I’m ready for it to stop.” We had just moved to western Nebraska from central Louisiana so we weren’t prepared for all this snow.
After a particularly cold and pounding snowstorm, I had reached my fill of being cooped up in the house and suddenly ordered all in the household to evacuate and get to the car. While they climbed in, I headed for the garage.
“Now where did I see that thing?” I murmured as I fought past moving boxes — “Ah, there it is!”
My son’s face lit up when I exited the garage with his purple snow sled, something he hadn’t seen in more than three years. It’s not a necessary item in Louisiana.
Shortly after arriving to the park, a spot most sledders go in this town, I was amazed at how many other kids he already knew there. We had only been here about 2 1/2 months. I suppose kids are like that, though. Quick to make friends.
As I watched him scream down the hillside, I noticed his face. It wasn’t exactly warm out here but you wouldn’t have realized it by looking at his face. A big smile froze to it the entire hour we stayed there. That smile didn’t thaw until I announced it was time to go.
While I enjoyed his enjoyment, I also needed to thaw out, especially over a hot meal and coffee. But in his eyes was a valuable lesson for me, one taught by the apostle Paul to the Philippians in 4:11-13: 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ[a] who strengthens me.
Pilgrim's Mile 