Winter Snow

I love Christmas! It is absolutely my favorite time of year. The music, lights, decorations, music, movies, family, music, friends, food, music… did I mention the music? Christmas music just has a way of putting me in a joyful mood. It’s happy music!

Over the years, I’ve had several favorites ranging from Louisiana Christmas Day by Aaron Neville to If Every Day Could Be Christmas by 98° to Baby It’s Cold Outside sung by Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan. This year, though, I had a Christmas song rock me a little bit. I heard this song for the first time a few years ago, and I’ve probably listened to it a thousand times since. But the other day, I was listening to it and it felt like I had just heard it—I mean really heard it—for the first time. (You can listen below.)

I originally fell in love with this song because of Audrey Assad’s voice. It was so captivating. But on this day, I fell in love with it because of the love that poured out of its lyrics. The first verse and chorus, specifically…

Could've come like a mighty storm
With all the strength of a hurricane
You could've come like a forest fire
With the power of Heaven in Your flame

But You came like a winter snow
Quiet and soft and slow
Falling from the sky in the night
To the earth below

I know these lyrics are talking about Jesus and the way He came into this world, and that alone makes this song so incredibly beautiful. But as I heard these words, I reflected back on the day I had just had. You see, this particular day, I had been extra emotional. I was emotional because I had to apologize to someone for something they had no idea about. And though I never expected this person to, they could have easily decided to get mad and write me off forever, but they didn’t. Instead, they thanked me, related to me, and forgave me. I was so grateful for the grace and love in that moment. These lyrics spoke to that.

Ever since that day, I have been listening to it on repeat. Thankful for the way Jesus chooses to treat us.

Not only could He have entered this world in a rage over the sins of humanity—”like a mighty storm, with all the strength of a hurricane”, but He could also choose to turn His back on us or disown us any time we sin or disobey Him. Yet, as long as we come to Him with a repentant heart, He doesn’t. He chooses to give us grace. He chooses to relate to us. He chooses to come to us “like a winter snow, quiet and soft and slow.” He chooses to love us. No matter what we do.

And now, I’ll never be able to just listen to this song again. I will forever hear the real message behind it. Then, hopefully I will remember to give the grace and love I received on that emotional day as freely as it was given to me.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!