White crystals whisper down from the sky, floating gently as if without a care in the world. The flakes move as the wind directs, stopping mid flight to brush against tree branches or flying nonstop to blanket the grass, The swirling dance is mesmerizing to watch and a gift chosen for me on this day. I am graced by the unfolding display with front row seats through the curtains of my deck windows.
Peace has eluded me recently… a peace that surrounds the outside and seeps into every pore of your being. A peace that washes aways the stress of life with its comfort. Holiday stress has started to build and has become consuming of late and the holidays are not even quite here.
I am a planner -love all my ducks in a row – all details sorted out and preparations accounted for and complete. With this personality trait, comes the creation of huge mountains of uncertainty that become impossible for me to climb. The result is a huge desire to crawl under the blankets and not come out until it’s all over.
God has sensed the unrest recently and has been walking by my side as stress becomes my norm. All I need to do is reach out and grab His hand and let Him lead the way-He is one touch away! I am also known for my stubbornness. I want to figure things out on my own, but we are not asked to do that. Our Father is always available and is honored to be included in the life that He so carefully chose for us.
God has been working His way into my stress since last week and each time I have put Him off with a bravado that looks good on the outside but does not reach my inner being. As I wrote on the word “still” for Five Minute Friday, God gave me these words:
[Tweet “The still of the morning brings the unknown until you free yourself from what could be to what is!”]
I believed those words for that moment and then quickly forgot as the days continued. Today God gave me a reason to stop and let Him in. I was given the gift of a snow day – a treasure for all teachers and students everywhere. A chance to break all routines and just be. The freshly whitewashed landscape took my breath away as I glimpsed out the window. Loudly I heard, “I did this just for you! Slow down, be still, breathe in my beauty.”
There are no routines today. It’s a PJ and coffee, curled up on the couch, kind of day. The whispers of peace that were just hovering are now being given the chance to enter and fill without distraction. God knows just what we need exactly when we need it.
I pray that you find some small, still moments as the distractions of the holidays threaten to overwhelm. As the mountain of your stress becomes unapproachable, may we pause, reset and look to God who is our peace and stress reliever.
You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Trust in the Lord always,
for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. Isaiah 26:3- 4 NLT
Blessings,
Mary
Blessed to be linking with:
Absolutely beautiful. Slow tender life-breathing peace. I love the silence of snow. And the gift of being able to watch it fall while safe and warm in my home. PJs and coffee – a beautiful way to spend a day breathing in stillness. Blessings Mary!
I was treated to a snow day on Monday and was mesmerized by the beauty of the white draped trees and how it created such a calm in me. I also love watching the snow from the warmth of my home and was blessed Monday to do just that. I was excited to see your link up and I am blessed by your graciousness. Have a beautiful week and Thanksgiving!
There truly are blessings we can find in these arctic blasts that also blanket our communities with a fresh blanket of white–and time to sip the coffee and gaze at God’s magnificence! I’m so glad you got that reprieve, sweet Mary! You take all the rest and refuel moments you need this holiday season … and don’t feel guilty about a bit of it! I know, I know! In your dreams, right? ha! I’m going to pray for you in this stressful season–that it turns out blessed in every way! Hugs!
I am blessed that you would pray for me! There’s a lot going on and I have been thinking of my mom more and more! As we celebrate thanks, life, birth and all the other themes of the season, my focus will be on mom but in the deep sense of loss I will rejoice that God’s plan is always the best. Love you and your friendship!
Hi Mary! Happy Snow Day! My daughter is a teacher, and she loves those unexpected gifts of time through the snow and ice. What a wonderful Father we have…he lives to comfort and support. I’m so glad that you feel his care and embracing hug just when you need it.
And don’t feel alone. I often forget his mercy too. We’re on a journey, and not perfect. Good think He knows that too.
Blessings,
Ceil
Hi Ceil! I love that your daughter is a teacher too. What fun! Thank you for affirming that I do not need to feel alone. I am an imperfect human striving to be perfect when God says”I will be the perfect for you.” Blessed by your presence and encouragement. Blessings!
Oh how I feel your pain for a day of peacefulness. Loved this post and your encouragement to slow down (with or without snow) and just let God come in. I’m looking forward to a day when I can do that. Love you!!
Snow is an added attraction but there is something about the clean white and interruption of routines that wraps together for a day with Him. I pray that you too will feel the peace of Jesus in your daily life and find time to be intentional when routines must carry on. Hugs friend!
He did that just for you…quoting you. He truly did. He knows how to get our attention when we are doing our best to avoid the eye-to-eye contact. I love Him so! And to think that He loved us first.
What a blessing you received with snow and the gift of sitting quietly with Him.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
I was blessed with a beautiful day and in the stillness I was seeking peace but so much more-Him! The avoiding of that direct gaze seems to be the norm for many because then we don’t have to feel deeply, admit we struggle or look deep into ourselves. You hit it head on with your reply. Blessed you stopped by and joined in here today.
Reach out and grab His hand…surrendered in stillness and His love stilling the racket inside our hearts. Keep holding onto Him, Mary, and I will too. Beautiful post that whispered sweetness to my soul. Thanks!
Love seeing you here Sheila! Blessed by your encouragement and how God speaks through our words to others. I hear you have a new website. I’ll be coming to visit. Blessings!
Mary, it always amazes me how snow truly does remind me of stillness & peace in Him. I love the hush which comes with snow falling. It blankets my world much the way He blankets me with His peace. Beautiful post! Thank you!
The gift of any snow day as a teacher requires a happy dance but the absolute stillness that graced the landscape on Monday was a gift to behold. God truly does know us and sends these little reminder gifts when we need them most. Blessed you stopped by and that this post resonated with you. Hugs!
Beautiful! Had to pause here a moment and soak it in. On a planning team for a women’s conference themed “Be Still” – starting to flesh out the theme and content this week and I love how everywhere I look I’m seeing this theme repeated over and over. Can’t wait to dig in further and see what God has in store for us!
There are certain themes that run through blogs I read at different times, usually when it is weighing on my heart too. I would love to hear how your planning of your conference goes and how God steers you with the theme “Be Still”. It sounds like a conference I would want to attend. Blessed as always when you stop by Kathryn. Thank you for your encouragement.
Mary – Your words always touch my heart. The snow was beautiful and today was the perfect gift for a November day. Thank you for bringing joy to my world!
Blessings,
Karen
Blessed as always that you encourage me and spend a little time here. You bring joy to my world too! Love you friend!
Mary, your writing truly touches my soul with softness and peace. This post is a beautiful reminder to just BE. I did not get to do that today. I pray we will have a few other snow days so I can take your advice. May Gid continue to bless your words so they bless others.
Your encouragement is such a gift and I know that we both can learn how to just BE with practice and intentionality. I appreciate your prayer for me that my words continue to bless others. Your presence here means so much. Love you friend!
Hi Mary … Yes, there’s something almost magical about watching the snow descend. One late evening when my own soul was more than a bit unsettled, I turned on the outside light and watch the large flakes spiral down in the light that the spotlight shone. Each flake whirled and danced their glorious way to the ground … and my heart was strangely stilled.
He whispered peace in my heart even though the storm swirled right beyond my reach. I pray that same grace gift for you this evening, friend …
Hugs for ya’ …
I can’t even begin to tell you what your presence here means to me. Your words are are warmth and love and you make my little home brighter. I pray we all receive God’s grace gift of peace in our hearts and souls in the midst of the hustle and bustle. Hugs and love my friend!