Following in Our Footsteps

After the snow falls in swirls and piles in our backyard, I love to sit and watch the pristine white change to a muddled maze of footprints. Our yard quickly collects a variety of prints, human and animal. Deer come through in packs of three or four late at night. Squirrels scamper everywhere, burrowing with their noses under the snow to find hidden food. Birds make delicate lacy prints as they scratch for sunflower seeds. And four sizes of human footprints ramble this way and that.

It is the human tracks that give me the most pause, though. My husband and I leave our big bootprints as we casually walk around the yard. Back and forth, on top of, beside and all around ours scatter our children's prints. Though they may stop to brush off a snow-covered swingset or to investigate a set of animal tracks, they always come swinging back to join ours. It is as though our very path through the snow is magnetic to their little boots as they traipse through the yard behind us.

Everywhere we go in the yard, we have company. Where we walk, they walk. What we stop to investigate, or when we throw snowballs, they do, too. Our very actions, from the places we go to the things we do are parroted with enthusiasm. We enjoy this time so much, but I am struck by the lessons of the heart that I have learned.

There are parts of our yard which are quite treacherous when the thaw/freeze cycle begins. And, because of the steepness of the slope in some spots, it is very easy to fall and go skidding downhill. On our way back towards the house, we caution the kids, "Watch out! Hold my hand!" If they listen and hang on, we all make it safely down the hill. If they don't, we more than likely will end up in a tumble faster than we can say "WHOOPS!"

It's those times I ignore God's cautions that I end up in a tumble, too. Though I stumble, He re-directs my way, and reminds me of what is right. My mistakes are forgiven, even though my errant footprints can't be erased. I can look back and see my "wipe-out" and feel the bruises forming. But I also know my Lord is my Healer, and His never-ending mercy holds me, even by the hand, as I try to walk with Him again.

Every snowfall is a reminder that He will help me, if I would only hold on to His Hand... and it is my prayer that my children will hold onto Him, too.

The steadfast love of the LORD
is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,
and His righteousness to children's children,
to those who keep His Covenant and remember to do His commandments.
Psalm 103:17-18 NRSV