Sierra V. Fedorko

Last week it finally and truly snowed here in the Foothills. And I was thrilled. Earlier this year we were supposed to experience a big winter storm. We were supposed to get snow and I was expecting a power outage and everything. I kept watching and waiting for the snow. Looking out the window over and over again to nothing. It barely snowed at all for that big winter storm.

So when it began snowing last Thursday, I did not expect it. I hadn’t been waiting or watching at windows. But there it was. Snow.  It was no blizzard, but it snowed enough to watch the snowflakes flutter, to gather in small piles on the ground, to be enamored by its beauty.

The Lord has taught my soul so much through the garden and through His creation, and something I have learned is to love when winter happens in spring, when spring comes in winter, when summer lasts forever, when autumn feels too heavy with blessings to bear.

I am safe with God always.

I can welcome the season at hand.

I can celebrate snow in spring.

Soon the warmth of the sun will be here to stay, the spring breeze will be balmy and bright. Our soft green curtains will flutter in its wake. The table will hold roses from the garden and the windowsill will display wildflowers from the hillside. But for now April snow showers dust spring wildflowers and we watch at the window in such joy.

A lot is said about unmet expectations. Primarily we equate unmet expectations with painful emotions and outcomes. While the stakes weren’t high at all, it was still disappointing when the big snow never fell when it was supposed to. But! I have learned through the years that unmet expectations can also be drenched in joy. Buttercups sprinkled with snow flurry in April is a picture of that unexpected delight!  It was glorious! It was good! It was God’s creative way, and it didn’t happen when I waited at the window.

Unmet expectations are often a crash course in the goodness of God.

These short bursts of April snow showers remind me to count the ways in which my unmet expectations have been good and joyous. 

Where have been your seasons of beautiful and “belated” snowflakes on bright spring buttercups?

Where has your joy been full when you faced unmet expectations?

Count the ways!

Happy Spring, indeed.