Woman to Woman
Vol. 7, No. 1
“And ye are complete in him.” Colossians 2:10
Jan./Feb. 2004
GOD’S
GIFT
OF
SNOW
By Floyd O. Rittenhouse
“He
showers
down
snow,
white as
wool, and
sprinkles
hoar-frost
thick as
ashes; crystals of ice he scatters like
bread-crumbs; he sends the cold, and
the water stands frozen.” (Psalm
147:16, 17, N.E.B.)
Every year, about this timeor ear-
lier, a blanket of mantling snow co-
mes sifting down over much of the
Northern Hemisphere. There are
those who dread the coming of winter
because of the shivering cold it intro-
duces and the danger of winter travel-
ing to life and limb. But the first
snowfall is exciting to children. They
love the exhilaration of winter sports
that puts zest into the blood, paints
youthful cheeks with scarlet, and
adds sparkle to clear, young eyes.
John W. Watson exulted thus:
“Beautiful snow! It can do nothing
wrong.” And John Ruskin’s apprecia-
tion of nature’s coverlet of white was
expressed in these words: “I doubt
that any object can be found more
perfectly beautiful than a fresh, deep
snowdrift, seen under warm light. Its
curves are inconceivable perfec-
tion… its lights and shadows, sharp,
pale, and of heavenly color, the re-
flected light intense… mingled with
the sweet occurrences of transmitted
light.”
It is an inspiration to stand atop a
lofty mountain range and see the
heights below capped with perpetual
snow. Tall peaks are especially beau-
tiful on a clear morning when the
snowy crests reflect the rising sun.
They are lovely when draped with
fleecy clouds. Somehow though, they
seem most awe-inspiring at sunset,
when a soft rosy glow tips them with
incandescent fire.
When we pause to reflect, we re-
alize that everything in which we de-
light and which we reckon as “ours”
is really a gift
from God,
who “is a gen-
erous giver
who neither
refuses nor
reproaches
anyone.”
(James 1:5,
N.E.B.)
When we ap-
preciate this
great truth we
will consis-
tently and
humbly bow
our heads before every meal to thank
the heavenly Giver.
?
[From Show Me Thy Ways, Copy-
right 1983 by the Review and Herald
Publishing Association. Used by permis-
sion of Mrs. Rittenhouse.]
Inside This Issue:
Editorial
Recapturing the Hearth to Hearth Dream······ Page2
ANewYearWithGod················· Page4
My Little Orphan (poem) ··············· Page5
Up Close and Personal
WithJimandRosieBeavers ············ Page6
Dead Branches ····················· Page7
Spotlight on Orphans
A Memorable Visit Shared—The Rest of the Story · Page 8
Health is Wealth
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Part 9) ·····Page11
“Tis God who causes rain to fall
And sends the winter’s snow,
Who puts power in the soil
That makes the corn to grow.
“He takes time to paint the roses.
He marks the sparrow’s fall.
He bedecks the clouds at sunset
And watches over all.”
Leonard C. Lee
