Snowmen. You see them often where ever you go during the winter.
The ones you see in the stores (on cards, wrapping paper, in figurines, etc.) always look so perfect…impossibly perfect. Three smooth round balls joined together forming the body. Beady little eyes, carrot nose, and buttons like an overcoat. Some have scarves, some have hats, some have arms and hands. Some look like men, some look like women but they’re always perfect.
The ones you see around town in people’s yards, however, are…well…let’s just say they’re usually less than perfect. The bodies usually look like mangled mounds of snow smooshed and packed together that are then cut with hand chops to look like rounded sections. The smiles are usually lopsided and the eyes a bit off kilter. And the whole body is usually drooping to one side looking more like a snow-geezer and less like a snow-man.
I’ve always had a fear of making a snowman. I just felt like my efforts could never measure up to the expectations that are set by those perfect figures we see in the stores. It would take too long; be too much work. The finished product, even if I took the time and put in the effort, would still be less than desirable. Besides, it’s gonna melt anyway! So why bother?
I think that fear of making a lopsided snowman is a picture of our own fears of so many other things in life: committing to relationships, building healthy friendships, deepening our spiritual lives, making courageous choices, doing the right thing, etc. We fear that it’ll be too much work; take too long. We fear that even if we put out the effort, the end result will be too disappointing. Besides, it won’t last anyway and I’ll just have to start all over again.
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity [fear], but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” ~ 2 Timothy 1:7
Last Sunday, was a day of victory for me…I made a snowman. I conquered my fear of disappointment and put the time and energy into taking my two little girls outside and we made a snowman! Well, actually, a snowgirl…named DeeDee. We carefully rolled each ball separately and, of course, the first one was the biggest and hardest to make. But, after that it was actually pretty fun! Together, we smoothed out the sides and placed the rocks for eyes, raisins for the mouth, a carefully carved carrot for the nose. We gently wrapped her in a pink scarf and topped her with a pink stocking cap. When she was done, we were proud and heartily satisfied! She doesn’t really measure up to the ones we see in the stores (in fact she leans a little to the side and she’s already melting) but in our hearts, she’s perfect!
It just took a little confidence & courage, love for my daughters, and self-discipline to say to myself “Get out there and just do it!”
Are you afraid of making that “snowman” in your life? You know what I mean. Let this remind you that God has not given you a spirit of fear but a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. So go ahead…get out there and build that snowman! It’s worth it.
