It came like a tidal wave on December 19th and covered the land, then stayed two full months. Two months of winter like I’ve never experienced. It brought, not just snow you could measure in inches, but snow measured by the foot. Before one batch could melt away completely, another wave would come. Roads were impassable much of the time, thousands of folks were isolated or out of electricity for long periods of time, school was canceled almost every day, the number of accidents from slipping on the ice grew, and we rarely saw sunshine. Just cold, cloudy, dreary days, day after weary day. Most folks suffered in one way or another.
Ordinarily I love snow, but after two months of it, it almost felt like death. Did I grumble and complain? You bet I did.
Then Saturday morning, February 20, an incredible sun chose to smile down on us, and it was marred by neither cloud nor flake of snow. Folks were so elated that they used every conceivable reason to go outside. That great big sun smiled on us all day long and on into Sunday.
We basked in the warmth and light as long as we could, soaking it into our bodies and spirits like animals who have gone without water for a long period of time. Smiles, greetings, happiness everywhere, one huge rejoicing! I almost heard Nature clapping her hands.
I remember saying to myself as I luxuriated in the surprise blessing, “I feel like I have been reborn. Raised from the dead even!” My depression was gone and I spent the entire day rejoicing.
Then I thought, When it seems we are forever lost in sin, one day we put our trust in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, and He begins to shine in our hearts. I wonder if this is the way God feels when we finally invite His Son to come into our hearts? Does He rejoice over us? Oh yes!! The Bible tells me so.
For the Lord will again rejoice over you for good. (Deuteronomy 30:9) For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. (Isaiah 55:12) The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save: He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. ( Zephaniah 3:17)
Thank You Father for rejoicing over me because I am allowing Your Son to shine in my heart.—Rebecca Somoskey
