Blizzard Runs (02/13/2025)

When my children were growing up (between the ages of 6 and 18) we had a ritual called “The Blizzard Run.” When it was declared a snow day, and there was no school, the kids and I would load up in the family car, drive around carefully looking at the beauty of the snow drifts and the snow draped trees, watching people playing in the snow, and then we’d head to Dairy Queen and go in for blizzards. How I wish I could have one more “blizzard run.”

My friends thought I was crazy. But yesterday as I sat and watched the snow blow and drift, I recalled the fun my kids and I had on our “blizzard runs.” I remember stopping and marveling at the drifts, the way the wind sculpted the snow. I remember talking with the kids about being their age and never experiencing snow, not knowing what it was. I never made a snow man as a child. My kids thought I’d been deprived.

I remember going to the grocery store parking lot and having the kids round up the abandoned carts in the parking lot and taking them to the store door. We called it the blizzard rodeo. You’re right; it didn’t take much to entertain us. Wasn’t that great?

Yesterday it snowed all day. In the evening around 6:30 p.m. I sat on the screened porch and had a “thank you, LORD” conversation. I thanked the LORD for the beauty of the day, for the memories of times past, but most of all, I thanked the LORD for time with my kids. I know they thought they’d never grow up, but they did, too quickly. I am so happy for them and for their families and for their chances to make memories. I thanked the LORD for loving memories that made my day 30 years later.

What’s my point? We are created by an all-loving and all-powerful LORD who is also all-present. We are created in the image and likeness of I AM. While we spend our lives moving toward a future life with our LORD, a life in abundance, we cannot get there without living the present well. The LORD created us to be present, to see and hear the goodness around us in the moment, to be present to those we love in the moment. And when we do – the LORD is with us – these are blessed moments.

As we journey in faith, hope and love, let us always have time for one another. Let us always relish moments of loving fun. And let us treasure them when we are blessed to have them.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.