The Lord has often spoken to me through nature, through His creation. As young child, I went out to play on a cold but sunny winter day. It had snowed and everything was adorned in glistening white. I traipsed through it, making the first footsteps and plopped down in my front yard. I gently scooped up a small heap of the snow and held it in my hands. I remember it so clearly. The memory has perfect 2020 vision. My 58-year-old eyes would never be able to see the details those young girl’s eyes did. The sky was clear and the sun shone brilliantly on the scene. Caught in my mittens, were the most intricate creations, indescribably perfect in their patterns and glistening in the sunlight. I was in awe of what I was seeing. Studying them very carefully, I marveled that each one of those snowflakes were different from the other yet every one was as stunning as the next. As I sat mesmerized, this overwhelming presence of God came over me. (The Bible speaks of the faith of a child. Childlike faith is simple and trusting. This experience, as I recall it, reminds me of that verse. As a child I knew it was God I was sensing and as a child His manifest presence was understood and naturally accepted without question.) In that moment, gazing at those awe inspiring snowflakes, the Lord spoke into my heart. I remember the words clearly, “You must belong to Me.” What a marvelous mystery. As an adult I find it so comforting, that the Lord of all creation would single out a little girl in Northwest Ohio, on a snowy day, for the sole purpose of assuring her of whose she was destined to be. I can guess as to His reasons for why He spoke those words into my heart at such a tender age. As the sovereign, all-knowing Governor of my life, in His foreknowledge perhaps He saw there was a time coming when I would question if I had fallen too far from His grace. As a returning prodigal my feelings of unworthiness would overwhelm me and cause me to question His love and acceptance repeatedly for many years. His ways are not our ways. His thoughts unfathomable and His love indescribable. I am truly thankful for the snowflake memory. It is a deep and treasured one. It is one thing out of many that now anchors me to the truth of my Savior’s love. I am His and He is mine. I ask you today. Do you know Him? Really know Him? Have you accepted His gift of salvation that was bought at a great price for you on Calvary?

This lovely scene is on Route 180 in Hocking County. Noticed this last autumn but this year the red on the hill is especially vivid.

If you take a minute and ask, most Mommas will tell you a mystery…. They will say that each of their babies were born different, unique from the start! I was recently reminded of this profound truth when I noticed a makeshift cast on a decades old doll. “Cricket” was my daughter Grace’s favorite! She was bigger than most doll babies and Grace loved taking care her. She would carefully place her in her doll crib and pretend she was at a hospital. Poor ole Cricket met with many unfortunate accidents and fell ill regularly with terrible diseases!I couldn’t keep bandages, gauze or medical tape because they would somehow, inevitably, end up on Cricket! Today, as I sit in my granddaughter’s playroom, who now enjoys playing with her Mommas beloved doll… I just had to take a photo of that cast, placed there by a little girl who wanted,so badly, to be a nurse since the early age of three! I can’t help but be in awe of our Creator and the gifts He gives us! At this very moment Grace, who is now an RN, is caring for hurting people, some of who are suffering from similar illnesses she once practiced for on Cricket! What a mystery! Gifted by her Maker for an intentional life! One of deep purpose and meaning! Called to service and love! We often tell our children they can do anything. Maybe it is even better to inspire them to ask what unique gift has God placed in them. Maybe we should pray that the Lord opens all our eyes to grasp, even in part, who we really are in Christ and the price that was paid for us to live an unparalleled, individually gifted, unique life! That partial understanding would ultimately fill us with such wonder and joy that we might never question if life was worth living but rather press on to our high calling every day!