Bit by Little Tiny Bit. . .

As I sat cuddled on the couch with the boys reading, I noticed the first snowflakes fall.  I smiled, paused the story, and gave the snow it's appropriate welcome.  Then, I continued reading, looking up from time to time to see the beauty unfold before us just outside our window.  Later as I listened to JCT read, my mind was elsewhere.  I was watching the snowflakes fall, and thinking. . .

I've learned so much this year, and I've mentioned this recently, about slowing down.  But, there is something else that goes along with this lesson.  I am always in such a hurry.  I always want what I want and I want it yesterday.  I want God to change my ugly sinful heart into a beautiful, fruit-filled garden overflowing.  And, He doesn't seem to do it fast enough.  I pray.  I read.  I memorize scripture to fight spiritual warfare within my heart.  I hope and try and fight and nothing seems to change. . . nothing much.

So, as I sat with sweet son beside me reading about snow falling :-), my mind was drifting, pondering all these things.  And, God whispered sweetly to my soul that this is all so much like a winter snow ~ calm, slow, and steady ~ snowflake by snowflake, bit by bit.  What started as a snowflake here, a snowflake there, over the course of an hour, became huge flakes falling swiftly and a ground completely dusted in white.  The snow is having her way with us, and we are happy to oblige her!  Tiny and easily breakable, one snowflake by itself would go completely unnoticed ~ no threat to anyone.  But, an army of snowflakes falling simultaneously can close down country roads, large highways, schools, and basically shut down entire communities.  Blizzards, white-outs, power outages, you name it, and it all begins with a snowflake here a snowflake there.

And, God whispered that sometimes this is how He works. . . bit by bit, snowflake by tiny little snowflake.  The changes don't always come instantly.  It takes time, but be patient, over time His work is completed wholly, perfectly, beautifully.  Just as teaching a little one to read or do math, as I have learned this year.  It doesn't help to hurry them or push them ~ slow and easy does it.  Bit by bit, day by day, they grow and learn and then you look back at the end of a semester and go, "Wow!  Look how far we've come!"  When I explain a big, broad math concept to Joshua, I don't expect him to get it completely on day one.  We work at it, chip away at it, build on it, and then, boom, he understands it completely and with the depth he needs to be successful in the years to come.  But, it doesn't always come overnight.  If you've ever taught a child to read, you understand this.  One day they sound out words, then slowly over time, somehow, amazingly they read words they've never seen without hesitation.  And, you stare at them in wonder???  Bit by by, easy does it. . .

As I walked Rain, I noticed leaves covered in snow scattered in the yard and on the road.  And, I wondered to myself how many individual snowflakes it might take to cover just one little leaf?  And, so I thought, maybe, I am not as hopeless as Satan would like me to believe.  Maybe even if I don't see the changes as rapidly as I'd like, maybe, my sweet Father is at work in me chip, chip, chipping away making me new, fruit-filled, and beautiful. . .


But, it doesn't happen instantly.

It takes time, sweet, precious, time. . .

So, I am learning to slow down, relax, and not push so hard, but rather to trust and rest in Him and in His perfect timing.  And, as I have typed this my backyard has gone from nearly solid white with only the tips of grass showing to deep, smooth, soft, solid white everywhere I look.

And, it all happened ~ slowly, quietly, and peacefully. . .

 Let it be with me, as well. . .

Let me rest in His amazing love, bask in His sweet grace, and trust in His unrelenting faithfulness to complete His work in me. . .

Bit by tiny little bit.