Residual

As the snow melts (and most of it has), there are still mounds left here and there. Some are from the edges of the roads where plows pushed the snow to the sides and made big mounds. Some mounds are from the few snowmen left, slowly shrinking with each day. As you can see, some mounds are still nicely white. And some aren't so nicely white.

Which has led me to this thought - what remains after things happen in our lives? What remains after people or circumstances or incidents are no longer in our lives?

Certainly there is the "good snow." The happy memories of what once was. The clean, clear thoughts that remind us of treasured times and people. The photos and thoughts that lift us up, reminding us of cheerful times and hope for more in the future. The brightness that lifts our spirits.

But what about the "dirty snow"? Does it remind us of the sad and bad times, or what was once good but turned ugly? Do we turn away from it, not wanting to view it because of the way it looks?

I guess it's just all about how you look at it. Because once upon a time, even the ugly snow was beautiful. Maybe once upon a time, the origin of the ugly residual leftover from our experiences was good. Maybe somewhere along the way, it got sullied by time and experience. And now it is indeed hard to look at because it has ruined that which was once beautiful.

But maybe it's there to remind us that there is good to consider and remember. And that eventually the ugly will fade if we let it. And that there is always good to gaze on and remember. And ultimately, to remember that the One who gives all good things to us.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Philippians 4:8 - New International Version (NIV)

******************************************************************************************

Thankful today for: beautiful day for a walk; checking on Rambo