Sue pulled her wool hat over her ears and locked the front door. When she reached the end of the driveway, Betty was already approaching, her cheeks pink from the cold.

“You got here fast. I thought we were meeting halfway.”

Betty rubbed her gloved hands together. “When it’s cold, I hurry. But the sun is strong, so I’m sure we’ll warm up in no time.”

Sue shielded her eyes from the sun as she peered down the street. “You’re right. The snow is already melting. Good thing we have our boots.”

“Yes, ma’am. A little snow and cold will not stop us from our Saturday walk. As long as I have the right gear, I can walk in anything.”

Sue grinned. “I like your enthusiasm. I’m happy to walk with you. Plus, you can help me figure out my Sunday school lesson for tomorrow.”

Betty fell into step beside Sue as they made their way down the sidewalk. “I’m not sure how much of a help I’ll be for your lesson, but I’ll try.”

They made their way around the corner where a pile of grayish snow stood, a remnant of the plowing that had taken place. Sue grimaced. “The snow was so beautiful the other day. I loved the pristine white that covered everything. But now, by the roads, it’s a dirty gray mess.”

Betty slowed her pace to sidestep a patch of ice. “I think you have your lesson right there.”

Sue frowned. “You want me to teach the kids about dirty snow?”

Betty grinned. “Yes. There are lessons in everything. Think about it. What God gave us was beautiful and perfect. He covered the brown grass, the leaves, and sticks in the yards. What he gave us covered the imperfections. Everything was pristine. Just like when he created the world. He told us everything was good.”

Sue brightened. “I get it. Then we sinned and took his perfect white snow and turned it into the gray dirty mess that it is now. But what about when the snow melts? Then we’re back to what we had before, with the brown grass and yard debris.”

Betty chewed on her lower lip for a moment as she continued her way down the street. “It’s like the old covenant. In the Old Testament, the Israelites had to sacrifice animals to cover over their sin. It worked, but it was only temporary. It was like a snowfall, covering over their brown grass. But the sacrifice, like the snowfall, was only temporary until the next time they sinned. The new covenant in Jesus is the only one that is permanent.”

“So if we ask Jesus to forgive us, it’s like living in Antarctica, where the snow is always pure and white?”

Betty laughed. “I’m not sure that’s the best analogy, especially for people who don’t like the cold. No, when we ask Jesus to forgive our sins, he doesn’t just cover over them. He takes them away and removes the dirt and debris, so when the snow clears, all we see is lush green grass and wildflowers. He doesn’t cover over our sinful nature. Jesus changes us from the inside out.”

Sue nodded. “So accepting him is like the beauty of the spring. That’s much better than Antarctica. I think the kids will like that. I never taught a lesson like that before, where I just took something common and made it into a story.”

Betty pointed a gloved finger in Sue’s direction. “Ahh, well, then you need to start. Jesus did that all the time. It’s the everyday object lessons that stick with us the most. Next time you walk past that mound of gray snow, you’ll remember this conversation. And maybe it will trigger you to pray. Either way, God is God of the everyday. He’s with us in the simple things, and we need to remember that.”

“With you as a friend, it’s easy for me to see God in the everyday things. Even dirty old snow.” Sue reached out and grabbed Betty’s hand. “Thanks. Not only for the Sunday school lesson, but for speaking to my heart as well.”

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson,they shall be like wool.

God, thank You for cleansing us, for forgiving us. And thank You for the beauty of the snow. The examples in Your word are so helpful for us. You’ve shown us how simple things can mean so much. Help us find ways to connect everyday items to You. Anything that brings You to the front of our minds will help us stay close to You. May we always be thinking of what is pure, noble, and right, like new fallen snow. In Jesus’ name, Amen.