We’ve gotten a couple of wee little snowfalls this year, but some of us—not my snow-Scroogy husband, but some of us—are still hoping for one big snow before winter is over. The kind that gently arrives, looks beautiful, and is gone without a trace in a couple of days.
I know the odds are against us, but I have the inside scoop on how we may still squeeze in a significant snowfall before the daffodils bloom. According to my 5-year-old granddaughter, Margot, all we have to do is to put white crayons in our refrigerators.
Margot was both delighted and aghast when she awoke one recent morning to discover many inches of snow were falling in her Ohio town. Delighted because she’s a kid and big snow means big fun. Aghast because she thought she’d caused it.
I’m not sure where she got this idea, but Margot said she’d put a white crayon in the refrigerator because she wanted it to snow. But according to my daughter-in-law’s very funny Facebook video post, Margot realized she may have underestimated the power of the crayon. Here’s how the conversation went:
Janine (my daughter-in-law): Look at your snowstorm. Did you do that?
Margot: No.
Janine: Didn’t you put the white crayon in the fridge?
Margot: Yeah, but that means it’s a snow day.
Janine: So it has to snow for it to be a snow day, right?
Margot: Yeah. I just tried it, but I didn’t know it would be this MUCH!
Margot’s description of the snowfall was as follows: “Whoa, it’s like free (three) or six packs out there. I mean free (three) or six packs of pounds!”
It was easy to tell by my granddaughter’s facial expressions that she absolutely believed she and her white crayon were responsible for those snowy “free or six packs of pounds.” So cute. Not true, but cute.
I think all of us, like Margot, sometimes believe we have more power and control over things than we actually do. Many of our choices certainly do have consequences, but I take great comfort in knowing that nothing can ultimately thwart God’s plans. As King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 19:21, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”
Throughout history, good and bad leaders have risen to power. Yet, God is still doing “all that He pleases” (Psalm 115:3). Even when I don’t understand why He allows certain things to happen, I find it hugely comforting to know God is working a plan that stretches way beyond the limits of human reasoning.
In Psalm 2, we get a glimpse of God’s reaction to earthly rulers who shake their fists at Him and generally get too big for their britches: “He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them.” Doesn’t sound like He’s worried.
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon learned this when his self-esteem swelled to grotesque proportions and God had to whittle him down to size. The account in Daniel 4 says the king was driven from power and looked and lived like a wild animal for seven years.
Until, in Nebuchadnezzar’s own words, “(I) raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever.”
If we believe we can completely control our lives and our “kingdoms,” we are mistaken. Might as well put a crayon in the fridge and hope for snow.
We’re not in charge; Jesus is. He’s the all-wise, thoroughly good and trustworthy One who unequivocally said, “… All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matthew 28:18).
And snow or no snow, I’m thankful for that.