Footprints and Scars

The beauty of a winter snowfall.

This morning, many of us woke up to the beautiful aftermath of an overnight snow. It's difficult to see such glorious, pure white draping everything and not be in awe! Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the trees and bushes seemed to be bending under their fluffy new blankets. I captured our firebush out front because it was astounding to me just how heavy this snowfall was. Even more so, how resilient nature seems to be in return, bending gracefully to bear the weight and somehow remaining unbroken.

 

The love of our Creator is much like a freshly fallen snow. Dazzling white and pure of defect, completely blanketing us, bringing us His complete and total wisdom, bending us under the all consuming fire of His heart - and yet not breaking the free will He gave us.

 

Footprints ... both haunting & beautiful.

Much like the footprints of the paperboy cutting across the lawns mar the beauty of the snow, the decisions we make also do so to the perfect relationship that is created when we first accept His love. No matter how pure our intentions at first, ultimately the temptations of sin lure all of us away at some time, in some way. When we return on our knees to The Father, he washes away the stains and we become pure again, like the earth after a new snowfall re-blankets nature.

 And what becomes of all those footprints? It's been said often lately that the definition of insanity is to repeat the same thing over and over achieving the same results every time. So what about us? Do we remember the mar's left behind from our 'shortcuts'? Or do we choose to stay on the sidewalk, even if it means taking a different or longer route than we are comfortable with?

 

It's so easy to fall into the trap of not learning from our past decisions. Words like 'mistake' and 'accident' too often get used in an attempt to excuse past bad behaviour. Soon we find ourselves cutting across the lawn again, leaving behind more footprints, more scars. We find ourselves like the prodigal son, on our knees, unworthy, before Our Father once again begging for His mercy and forgiveness.

 

Though the love of Christ is strong enough to wash away our sins each and every time we ask for forgiveness in true humility of spirit, there are long term effects left behing. Much like the footprints in the lawn leave indents even when covered by a new snowfall. Scars. They are a constant reminder to us that we are human and when we choose our way instead of His way, there are consequences.

 

The great news is that you have a choice what you will do with those scars. Will you hide them under a baggy pair of sweats and hoodie, or will you bear them as a reminder to yourself and a witness to others? There is a consequence, immediate and eternal for both. One will lead you further away from His love, the other brings you even closer to His heart. There is a beauty that can be found in exposing our scars. Learning from the wounds, leaning upon His love for healing, that is more beautiful than just about anything else!

 

So today, what will you do? Will you continue to shortcut across the lawn or will you stay on the sidewalk? Will you hide under a blanket, or will you bear witness to the beauty that comes from giving Him our pain?