I’m a summertime gal. Bring on the sun, the heat, the sweat. Let me rock on the porch with a glass of iced tea, sporting a pair of shorts and my Tigers T-shirt, inhaling the scent of petunias.
Or give me springtime, air heavy with the fragrance of lilacs, pregnant with new life, the first robin.
Or even autumn, ablaze with color, hand-plucked apples, the aroma of wood smoke.
But winter? It’s so long. And so cold. And messy.
But today… today is one of those days in which I love winter.
It’s the snow that spills like cotton confetti, swirls gentle, piles downy soft, fluffs underfoot.
It beckons me outside, and I stand in the center of a sacred silence.
And I can barely breathe for the beauty of it.
I remember that God orders the snow to blanket the earth (Job 37:6), spreads it like fleece (Psalm 147:16). He spreads this comforter before me, and it comforts me.
I think of a friend who suffers and pray for His comfort to surround her.
I tilt my face and let flakes settle on my tongue. Taste and see.
Winter must come before spring.
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow . . . Open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. (Psalm 51)
Even in winter.
These photos are breathtaking Sandra, truly wonder on the page. A great way to wake up this morning. I often think that a wintering of the soul is where the deep work takes place for growth we see in the spring of life.
It *was* a world of wonder yesterday, Shelly. I’m glad I took time to drink it in. And yes, we all need a little wintering, from time to time. 🙂
Beautiful perspective, and I LOVE the first photo…I love the rest that winter brings…
Thank you, my friend. It was indeed a magical day. I’m going to try to hang on to that perspective today. It’s 2 degrees, and the birds will be hungry–meaning several trips to the feeders… the sunrise was just a tease… looks like more snow on the way.
Thank you, Sandy. I am in the south right now, but actually miss being at home in the cold and snow. After reading your post I understand why I am conflcted. Beauty is everywhere as well as His peace and joy.
Hi, Carrie. We lived in the south (Georgia and Florida) for a few years, and I loved it there. But there’s something about all four seasons. And, of course, in Michigan we sometimes get to experience them all within 24 hours. 🙂
Gorgeous photos and lovely reflection, Sandy. Wish you could send some of that snow down to Georgia! 🙂 Blessings!
I’ll trade you a bucket of snow for a bucket of peaches. 🙂
Lol!
Lovely, lovely photos!
Thank you, Elizabeth. It was all more lovely in real life. 🙂
And those Queen Anne’s Lace images depict how we curl tight & cling inward during winter… very fitting pictures.
Beauty.
Blessings.
Inward and into Him–at least that’s would be the best clinging, yes?
Since I landed in Pittsburgh over a week ago, it has been snowing almost non-stop. I feel as though I am walking, driving, and living within a snow globe. Fortunately, these folks know how to salt the living daylights out of roads and sidewalks.
I am a big-time summer gal, too. Big. Time. And yet there is something this winter is teaching me this year, something to do with longing for new life.
In the waiting, Grandma… it’s almost time, but it’s almost time!
Love the photos and the comment about the appearance of snow as a comforter that brings His comfort to us. I always remember that Jesus promised the “comforter” who would come to bring us His presence forever.
Thanks for reminding us of that, Kathy!
Been a busy day and more to do but took a minute to click over here to the Dude’s place and I. took. a. deep. breath. Thank you, Sandy.
Glad you found time, Dea. Love to you.
I would make these pics into a book if I could.
🙂
your words and photos make me love winter although I don’t see snow here unless I drive to it…Thanks, Sandra 🙂
Enjoy! I could pull out some photos that might make you think a little differently, though. 😉
Ha! I already know I would have a hard time with the cold…brr…it is good God put me where I can only reach snow if I drive 😉
Sandra, that is beautiful. Winter must come before Spring…isn’t that the truth.
Yep. And we can’t let those winters scare us because no matter how long they last, spring always comes.
“He spreads this comforter before me, and it comforts me.”–that’s why I have to go to Colorado or somewhere in the winter, to get me some of that white comfort.
We used to get a lot more snow back in the day, it seems. I remember my dad shoveling snow off roofs, climbing up a snowbank to a roof (with my sled), and my dad snowshowing tobogganed food to neighbors.
So very beautiful, Sandy. You understand “whiter than snow” far more than I ever could. When it brings you comfort to remember that winter must come before spring, I find the same comfort in remembering that SUMMER must come before spring (the only other season we have down here. =))
I remember feeling a lot colder sometimes there in winter than here…
I am loving and appreciating the slower, quieter aspects of winter more and more, the older I get. Beautiful shots (and words), Sandy!
I’m learning to love and appreciate it more, too, Michelle. And I’ve been thinking lately about the joy of playing in it as a child when we used to have tons more.
And thank you. 🙂
And today, we even had sunshine to go with it!! What a blessing, those soft winter wonder days and this beautiful capturing of yours. Hugs = )
The sun was gorgeous today. And more snow coming, I hear.
Thank you. Hugs back. 🙂
Oh my, Sandy, I always LOVE your bird photos, and this post is rich with a quiet beauty both in your words and images. That first image there, with the dried flowers in the snow, that one whispers cool grace to me, I am not a winter person myself, but this from you, helps me to appreciate it a little more today. 😉
Interesting… the older I get, the more I appreciate winter. Not so much in the child-like snowball-sled exuberant way, but in a quiet, gentle, giving-in way.
Sandy, these photos are just speaking something beautiful into my heart today. Just wow. I’m going back up to look again.
♥ ♥
Crazy about those top couple of photos!
Ahhh, thanks, Brandee. 🙂