By Ralphine Major

It is definitely winter!  Much of the nation—including the South—has seen frigid temperatures the last few days.  Even some parts of the Southeast which seldom see snow, such as Georgia and Florida, are experiencing record snowfalls.  Many schools are closed, as children can be seen sledding, throwing snowballs, and building snowmen.  Some offices are closed, and interstates are at a standstill.  While our area dodged the snow, East Tennessee got hammered with a blast of cold air that keeps on lingering.

There is something almost magical about a snowfall.  It arrives quietly, transforming a colorless winter landscape into a sparkling blanket of white.  From tree branches laden with snow to snow-capped mountains in the distance, a snowfall is a sight to behold.  I have often taken a walk after an early morning snowfall—untouched and perfect—as snowflakes quietly drift downward, disturbed only by the flutter of a beautiful redbird or the sound of a lone motorist chugging up the road.  The silence of snow brings to mind a favorite scripture that is often quoted.  Standing still in the silence of snow is a perfect setting to be reminded, yet again, of Psalm 46:10 (KJV):  “Be still, and know that I am God.”

May winter’s chilly days and flurries of snow bring you quiet moments of reflection, beauty, and inspiration.