Easter Snow Brings Unexpected Joy

Some holidays have magical moments that sit in our memories forever. So was one such Easter for me, not too many years ago.

It started as normal as any other happy holiday. The kids brimmed with excitement and the Easter baskets were reduced to sugar-high's and wrappers in no time. We put on our Sunday best and headed to church. Of course, the spring dresses were a tad out of season, as they often can be in the Midwest, in March. But, time has educated many mothers and the sweet Easter sweaters were in tow, though not providing the warmth needed this morning. It was unseasonably cold but my husband and I pressed on with our four happy kids, trying to make a memorable holiday despite the weather.

We all gathered at my mothers after church. The house was full of children, the sound of 8 happy cousins swarming, running. My sisters and I were helping my mom in the kitchen prepare the typical Easter meal, and the aroma of ham and homemade rolls filled the walls. My mother's kitchen has huge windows and doors that overlook their rolling, manicured lawn but today it looked barren in the cold until, all of the sudden, snow flurries began to lightly drift to the ground.

My dad was smoking his pipe by the door and said softly, among the adult voices stewing with conversation and jokes, "Is that snow?" The forecast hadn't called for snow, so we all turned to the window and sure enough flurries began wildly falling. The ground was too warm to sustain any accumulation, but none of us could remember the last Easter snow, if there had ever been one.

We rushed to the window and called the kids. Fingerprints scattered the glass panes and I could feel my father cringe. They children were so excited they began pleading to go outside. Of course, none of us had brought winter coats, but what the heck! We opened the door and they flooded out as the cold rush of air swept in.

Outside in their Sunday best they began running, jumping with arms outstretched. We could hear the happy giggles and screams through the glass. It was a sight I will never forget, all of the grandkids - our heritage, spinning on the deck in the snow. Dresses caught in the wind and it wasn't long before tongues were hanging out all over the place hoping to catch a snowflake.

The adults stood in the warmth and we all looked on with warm smiles on our faces...coffee mugs and cameras in hand. At the exact same moment, I think we all felt the same thing - blessed. It is the essence of a holiday, really, to be surrounded by love and family and to witness an unexpected, joyful thing.

Something about that time reminds me that the impossible can happen when you least expect it. As Christians, we all found it ironic that it happened on Easter, a day to remember that Christ accomplished the impossible by overcoming death in a tomb.
That particular Easter, was such a parallel to faith. When we believe, we stand in the presence of believers and glow in the warmth of family. We are sheltered from the cold through our faith. Every now and then we glimpse the impossible and know that only a loving God in heaven could have provided such a moment. And when our lives end, we will go to a glorious home in heaven because sin and death have no hold. Yes, when we truly believe, our souls are as free as the spinning 6 year old dancing with a pure smile in unseasonable drifts of snow.