Heavenly Snow

I have this sweet little calendar devotional that has found a home on our kitchen table. We like to read and share it during our meals together. Sometimes it is as simple as reading the message and other times we open the bible to read a little more, it just really depends on the day.

Here is what it said this weekend.

I love that you can make an ordinary day seem heavenly. The scripture verse was Romans 12:2 Be not conformed to this world.

Little did I know that this little message would be the motivational springboard that I needed to process some of the events from last week.

I had another lesson from God last week and it has taken a few days for it to settle in my soul and for me to be able to share it in a way that brings glory to Him. I was reminded again today that I am a BEACON. I am a beacon of God's light and now it is my time to SHINE like the sun!

I think I am now ready to share my latest lesson with those who have chosen to read and follow my journey.

My world was literally turned upside down when my sweet Jeremy leaped into the arms of Jesus. I knew he was good and would be for eternity, but me, I wasn't so sure. I've been on a journey ever since towards accepting this new reality in my life. While I continue to be evolving and changing into this new person, I can say that my savior has never left my side. I have felt His presence throughout this crazy roller coaster ride right from the beginning.

Part of my journey has included visits to the cemetery. To make a long story short, I was unable to go on Valentine's Day and it bothered me more than I thought it would. We recently had nearly 30 inches of snow fall and we just didn't think we would be able to even get to Jeremy's grave, so I agreed that our visit to the cemetery would have to wait.

An opportunity presented itself a few days later to go and so I did. I had flowers that child number three picked out for his brother. Well it would seem that I also forgot a few things. I forgot my boots (even though the snow was well over my knees), a shovel to dig a path to the grave site and to dig down into the snow to find Jeremy's headstone, and gloves to keep my hands free from the cold snow. At times I can be so consumed with grief that I cannot think logically. Anyway, I decided to forge ahead even though I did not have some essential tools needed for the job.

Well through the snow I climbed. I lost my shoe more than once, my pants were wet, and the snow had collected in the bottom of my shoes where my big toe belonged. I think the exact place where Jeremy's grave is located will forever be etched in my soul. My feet moved one foot in front of the other until I reached the place where I needed to be. I dug into the snow with my bare hands, missed the desired location, and found mud. I moved over about three inches and found Jeremy's headstone. I was relieved to have found it beneath the frigid snow.

I prayed, I cried, and then took several deep cleansing breaths. The world seemed so quiet at that moment in time. I couldn't help but to notice how beautiful the surroundings were all around me. The snow was pure white and completely undisturbed for as far as I could see. No footprints. No dirty snow. No debris on the ground. A few large birds that looked like hawks were flying above me and there were a few clouds in the baby blue sky. All I could see was nature's beauty in it's purest form. I felt this immediate warmth and sense of peace wash over me in that moment. I stood still and took a few more moments to enjoy the peacefulness. It was then that I realized there was more to the story and the pages began to unfold before my eyes. I didn't move as I absorbed the lesson within my soul.

"Amy, I created all of this. I created the trees, the birds, and the clouds in the sky. I created the beautiful snow that has blanketed the earth that is before your eyes. I created you and your precious son, Jeremy. I created all of this and much more.

The snow is pure white and peaceful when it falls. At first the landscape with the fresh fallen snow settling on the branches of the trees and the pure white blanket of snow covering the ground is captivating. It is peace in one of the simplest forms. Each snowflake is it's own creation, each one different and unique. The snowflakes can work together to change the landscape of the world. During a storm like this one with over 30 inches of snow on the ground, one can almost loose their bearings as the scenery around them can appear so different. Time moves forward, the sun shines, and then as the days go by, the snow begins to melt. The pollution and damage from the earth settles in and the snow becomes gray and even black from the dirt of this world. The snow has lost some of it's beauty as humanity moves it out of their way to resume normal activities in their lives. The peaceful scene begins to fade away with each passing day.

I created this world to be perfect but sin settled in. The snow that you see illustrates this story that I am sharing with you today. My creations are good but as time passes by on earth, some of those creations can become tarnished with dirt, evil, and sin. There is good and bad in this world that you live in on earth. You must learn to follow me as you balance a life between the good and bad. It isn't always one way or the other. There will come a time when I return to this earth to rescue my people once and for all. In heaven you will see, my creations are pure and perfect and will remain so for eternity. Jeremy is here with me now and he has been rescued from the turmoils of this world. Do not worry about his well being.

I wanted you to see this heavenly snow today. The beautiful, undisturbed, peaceful landscape that you see all around you here today at this cemetery, is merely a glimpse of the life that Jeremy now lives, with me in heaven. The world is telling you to feel sad as your feet stand at this cold grave. I urge you to be at peace my child and lavish in this beauty, for it is a taste of what is to come. Have faith and believe that Jeremy is good and perfect in every way. You'll see. I know this world hurts you, I will not leave you or forsake you. I love you and so does Jeremy."

I stood still in astonishment over the message that I had received. I had intended to make a visit and leave. I was not prepared for what had happened while I was there.

As I stood there on the hill overlooking the ground and the trees in the background, I felt a strong sense of peace that Jeremy agreed and that he wanted me to know that he was okay and happy. I also felt like he was also trying to tell me how beautiful it is in heaven. I thought about how he would want me to be happy. So I tried really hard that day to be just that, simply joyful.

God used the snow, something that seems so ordinary to me, to teach me a lesson about heaven. I am opening my eyes, my heart, and my mind to see what he is showing me through the everyday, ordinary miracles of today.

Even as I write this post, I was reminded that this was the third time in a matter of weeks that God used what seems like ordinary snow, to show me the way towards peace as only He can give.

Thank you God for your Heavenly Snow. I'm listening...and following You.