My daughter, Ashley, was born and raised in Florida. Temperatures can certainly take a dip in the winter, but seldom last more than a day or two before rebounding into the seventies. But unlike me, she ventured north and now lives in a metropolitan area that frequently experiences cold weather. It occasionally snows there, but rarely in large amounts at one time. Last Sunday morning, almost a foot of snow had already fallen, with more on the way. That much snowfall was a novelty for Ashley… and for her car.
She had parked her car on the next street over from her home, but was ticketed for parking on a snow route; she had to move it. She scraped the snow off the windshield and windows, and her car started fine, but it was stuck. Cold and frustrated, she didn’t know what to do. Someone shoveling outside his home nearby gladly came over to shovel Ashley’s car out. Once out of that parking spot, she carefully drove to the next street over, but ended up getting stuck in the middle of the road. Random passersby immediately came to help. When Ashley finally reached a spot closer to her house, a woman happily stopped shoveling outside her home to clear the snow so Ashley could park.
By the time Ashley was safely parked in a new spot out of the way of any service vehicles, her church’s morning service had already started. Though close enough to walk to her very well-attended church, she knew there wouldn’t be any seats left when she got there. Disappointed and tired, she went back inside her home. As she warmed up, she reflected on the morning’s events, feeling grateful for the neighbors who so willingly and cheerfully helped her. Neighbors were out in full force helping neighbors that snowy day. While Ashley did not make it to her church’s service, she had a warm, front-row seat to God’s goodness. Ashley was meant to receive a different message that morning—one about what it means to show compassion, generosity, and sacrifice to your neighbor.
Julia K. Hallum 