Snow-covered mountains and valleys below...

Score 2025

AJ likes to stay with his Moppy and Papa and we love him being here. He spent the night last night, and this morning we made minimuffins. While eating breakfast, I asked him what he wanted to do today. (It was 18 degrees at the time.) He said, "I'm going to play in the snow! It will be gone tomorrow." My husband and I laughed and assured him that a foot of snow would not be gone in one day because it wouldn't be warm enough. He was excited and bundled up to head outside. He played outside for about an hour and then gathered snow for snow ice cream. Snowball fights, snow angels, snow ice cream, burying in the snow, and building snow igloos. All the fun that comes with a rare large snowfall. But just like the snow melts away, in life a snow-covered mountain can soon be gone and left in its path, we have the valley below.

We all wish life could be full of snow-covered mountains and avoid the valleys. But, and I say But, we grow in the valleys. It is in the valleys that we are reminded of God's tender mercies and His goodness. We build our strength in Him and understand that it is because of His Grace we move from valley to mountaintop to valley and back to the mountains. We grow through life knowing that God is with us through every step. As a friend told me, "We grow through what we go through."

Leanna Crawford has a song, Psalm 23. I know yet another Jesus music reference. I need a commission for advertising. Part of the chorus is: "Oh, I know You are with me, my Father, my friend. Your goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days. I know by Your still waters I'm safe"

Psalms 23:1-4 states, "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, and He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." This Psalms tells us that God is with us as we walk through the valleys. He provides us comfort and He alone guides us. As I think of my God always providing for me, I have the gentle reminder of God's peace that is described in Philippians 4:5-7 " Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." He is with me. He is with us all. It is by the waters in the valleys, we are safe.