As white as snow…

I’ve driven past it a million times. Weeds up to your waist, front porch with patches of earth showing through, windows busted out, gutters hanging away from the roof and that roof…don’t even get me started on it. The whole place looks like a strong wind would finish it off.

It’s a shame though. If you squint real hard, you can see how majestic this house once was. The porch is wide, at least six feet and runs the length of the front and side of the house. The front door is solid wood, larger than doors today, and has ornate, but rusted hardware. The first floor windows, definitely not energy-efficient, are at least six feet tall. And there is a terrace with rusted chairs outside the upstairs windows. You can see that, at one time, this was a beautiful home.

The yard, though full of weeds, has a certain symmetry to it…the bushes and plants that are there were carefully planned and planted. The ornate fence and gate, that now hangs by its hinges, speak of wealth and style.

But, for the past six years, as I’ve driven past it to work, it just looks like its ready for someone to come along and put it out of its misery.

That is, until today. Today it snowed. Today when I drove past, I didn’t see weeds or delapidation…I saw beauty. The whole thing sparkled as the sun hit it and it was as though this mammoth home managed to raise its head to a position of pride once again. It looked…happy.

What is about snow that can make something so ugly, look like a princess’ palace? I still know what’s underneath; yet I felt myself smiling as I looked at it…a new creation.

See, I know how it feels. I know what it is like to be broken and ugly. I know how it feels to have people look at you with disdain and dislike. I know how it feels to wish a wrecking ball would swing and finish the job.

I am also blessed to know what it feels like to have the snow cover my ugliness…to hide my imperfections…to make me feel beautiful, wanted and loved again.

Thank you Lord for your cleansing blood…for taking the broken and ugly and making a new creation of me.

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
                                                                                                        -Isaiah 1:18