THE FIRST SNOW

The first snow came in last week. As with most first snows, it covered the dull brown landscape with its wooly blanket. Driving along the country roads, we saw underbrush turned to lace and trees transformed into majestic watchtowers for crows and hawks. In town, the streetlights softened into misty haloes and the garish Christmas lights somehow became natural and welcome as they peeked through the drifts.
This was the snowfall we were waiting for to get us into the Christmas spirit. Now, the tree could come out, the ornaments dusted and halls could be decked. No matter that we’d been shopping for a month or that the stores had had their sale signs posted since Halloween. No matter that the atheists are in a snit and the politically correct are demanding that we say “Happy Holiday” instead of Merry Christmas. We know that holiday is simply a shortened version of holy day.
We will read the beloved stories and watch Frosty and Rudolph and Charlie Brown with our kids. We will bundle them and unbundle them again and again as they brave the cold to build snowmen. Or, if we are grandmas and grandpas, we will watch our kids play with their kids and be glad we can take a breather when we need it. We will bring out familiar tales of what Christmas was like when we were kids and the little ones will look aghast at the thought of nothing more than a pack of gum or an orange as gifts.
Hills will be scouted for sledding and ice will be tested for skating. Marshmallows will be toasted in the fireplace and hot chocolate will become the beverage of choice for young and old alike. The weatherman says this will be a snowy winter. Of course, the weatherman always says this will be a snowy winter. It will be or it won’t which does nothing to spoil our appetite for the first snow. We know there will be just enough and we also know the last snow will be as welcome as the first.
Then, in the midst of winter will come a star and a stable and a babe born into the world He made; visiting His own creation as a created being. Awesome God as fragile baby – vulnerable and helpless in a hostile and violent world. A world much like we live in today. A world that has no time for peace. A world that often mocks our young men and women who lay their lives on the line to preserve Peach on Earth.
But if we can remember and if we can teach our children the truth of Christmas, then in another generation there will be those who keep the Spirit of Christmas alive in the midst of winter.