Our family spent months preparing for this vacation! We had been living in Singapore for two and a half years and had one big trip planned before returning to the States.
We were hot! All the time. Singapore is one degree North of the Equator so you can imagine the seasons we experienced…hot, hotter, and humid and hot. We wanted somewhere cool. No, not cool…cold! We dreamt of skiing and sledding and horse drawn carriages. The thought of burning wood crackling in a roaring fireplace and evening walks through the snow brought giddy laughter to our home. We couldn’t wait.
Our flight touched down in Munich, Germany as excitement woke us from our jetlagged stupors. We made our way to the rental car kiosk and, with keys in hand, stepped out in to that winter air. We were assaulted with a cold our children had never felt before. Cold air stung their airways and burned their noses. But for me, suddenly it felt like I could breathe again. I had not realized how my body had adjusted to the stifling, humid air of Southeast Asia and now the pillow had been lifted and I could breathe deep.
We drove to a beautiful military hotel, located at the base of the Bavarian Alps. We ventured out and within twenty minutes crossed in to Austria. We stopped for lunch in a village tucked neatly into the base of breathtaking mountain peaks. The charm and twinkling lights of the village pulled us outside to explore. We walked and pulled our kids on sleds through that little town.
And snow fell. And fell some more until a blizzard was upon us.
Snow sprinkled over us like powdered sugar, each flake kissing our skin and it felt oh so good! I stood on that cobblestone street listening to the silence that accompanies a snowstorm. The peace that comes with the snow.
As I meandered through those village streets, my mind wandered toward forgiveness and the Lord’s claim of washing us white as snow. As one who finds it difficult to accept the Lord’s forgiveness for that one thing, I paused at the village church and found a bench hidden in its shadows.
I watched how the snowflakes covered the ugly mud and dirt-caked streets.
I watched as snow covered the browning bushes and leafless trees.
I watched a transformation take place before my very eyes. Everything beautiful once again.
I found myself praying the words of Psalm 51:7 “wash me and I will be whiter than snow.”
And I knew the Lord has that power in my own life, in my own heart…to make all things white again. To wash away the stains of sin on my heart, the blemishes in my soul, and make it all white as snow.
I watched as the snow fell over me and covered me white. My mittens blanketed with powdery flakes, my eyelashes sparkled with snow turned ice, and I released all of those sins I never accept forgiveness for….for that one thing I have yet to believe God forgives me of.
And I accept His forgiveness there on that bench. A calm peace followed. Just as a night full of snowflakes brings calm and quiet, a still peace wrapped around me like a cashmere throw as I bundled myself in the Lord’s forgiveness. The Lord freed me from the stale oppression sin smothered upon me. I inhaled deep.
Everything beautiful once again.
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Ruth says
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I know.
I need that snow to come, to fall on me, to cover me, to melt from me like a stream washing me clean.
I need the peace and rest of sins forgiven, all forgiven.
I need Him.
Lori Dunham says
Amen! The act of accepting the Lord’s forgiveness is freeing indeed!
Thank you for your words, Ruth!
Lori
Christine says
That one thing…yes it’s been my forty years in the wilderness, the thorn in my side. And yet, I do know that when He sees me I am as white as snow and filled with the righteousness of Christ. Lovely reminder, Thank You!
Lori Dunham says
Thank you Christine. I know I need reminding of how the Lord sees us, not as the world does!
Lori
Rosie says
Tears in my eyes!
I wanna hug you…long and tenderly.
Since last year I feel this feelings of heavy guilt and I can’t get it away. Even if I know that God forgave me. I read so much articles, prayed long and deeply and nothing gave me the feeling of forgiveness and a clear Me! But it needed your lines to remember in God’s promise.
I’m so thankful for your words, your experiences you once made.
And (I’m living in the ice-cold Germany) I hope that it would snow now for I know more deeply that this promise will touch my heart a little bit more.
Thank you! You may never know how I enjoyed reading this…and now living a forgiven life!
Rosie
Lori Dunham says
Rosie, thank you for your heartfelt words you shared. You are not alone! It took me a long time to see and acknowledge how God was nudging me toward accepting His complete forgiveness. I continue to be amazed by His love for each of us, and how He reaches each of us in unique ways. I am celebrating with you today as you live free from guilt and shame. And how fun that you live in Germany!!!!
Lori
Lisa Buffaloe says
Beautiful post, Lori. Beautiful.
Thank you.
Lori Dunham says
Thank you for your encouraging words, Lisa.
Debra Hearne says
Thank you for sharing this beautiful time in your life with us !
Lori Dunham says
Thanks Debra!
Colleen says
This is so beautifully written, Lori. Thank you for this blessed reminder of God’s great forgiveness, and our difficulty in accepting self-forgiveness. We can be made beautiful again, and leave our darkness behind.
Lori Dunham says
Thank you Colleen!
Beth WIlliams says
Lori,
Loved the analogy of snow covering everything and making it white and new=like Jesus washing us and making us white and new-forgiving us of all sins!
Praise God for his continual forgiveness of our sins!!!
God Bless! 🙂
Ty says
I needed to read this today. Why cant I move past THAT ONE THING. Lord I wanna be over THIS ONE THING. Please pray I can eventually lay at his feet THAT ONE THING.