Forever Snow Day

Snow days have always been a rare piece of fruit dangling from the tree of childhood wishes. It's downright impressive to get one.

To have a snow day means sleeping in, frost on the widows, and building snow forts. Snow men come to life on snow days. In a perfect world moms stay home and make the day a special memory with the best breakfast ever and and endless supply of hot cocoa with itty bitty marshmallows.

On snow days there's a blend of cold faces and overheated backs as every child is dressed in layers. Sledding is mandatory. Snow angels are art. Snow ball fights proved the mettle of young warriors.

It appears a school in Michigan may have dealt a death blow to the snow day. This school had a 'dry run' of a new snow day protocol. Students were allowed to stay home, but they took all their regular classes online. The school proved that a snow day could mean classes can be held even when the buses don't run.

The essential hope of a snow day rests in one thing – a gift. Kids know they have to go to school Monday through Friday unless the school plans a day off for in-service or holiday. A snow day is a present to students. They get an unexpected day off.

God gave us a snow day for the rest of our lives. What He did was unexpected, but was a rare piece of fruit dangling from the tree of lifelong desires.

God told us we were responsible for our own action. He gave us a set of rules and we mess up – every day. We owe a debt we can't pay and God isn't satisfied until it's paid.

That's when God gave us the improved snow day. He sent His Son, Jesus to pay what we owe for sin. He invites us to stop trying to improve life on our own and rely on His ability to make us new.

“God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.” Romans 5:8 (MSG)

God told the world, “I've got this. Relax. Sin has been taken care of.”

Snow day?

“[Jesus said], I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” John 10:10 (MSG)

The same joy kids feel when they have a snow day is expanded when we truly understand God didn't just choose one day – but every day until we die – to experience the love, forgiveness, and companionship He offers.

Kids will always see a snow day as good news. All of us can see God's greatest rescue plan as the greatest news. But how often do we treat following God's plans as something we have to do rather than something we can't wait to do?

What if we treated our relationship with God like a forever snow day? Sure it will be different, but when we bring the joy the days we live can bear a resemblance to the radio announcement we all remember, “Due to weather conditions there will be no school today.”

So, the next time there is a snow day, just remember God has a life that is abundant, real, and adventurous – and it won't stop when the day is done. Isn't it time to really live?