Looking out my living room window, I saw a beautiful landscape. The lake was covered with a white blanket of snow and the trees laden with soft, fluffy snowflakes.

But the scene quickly changed as I reminded myself that I needed to go outside and shovel a pathway from the garage so that my husband could lug the garbage containers to the end of the driveway for pickup. As I got ready, my husband started to dress himself and told me that he was going to pick up the snow with the big scoop, pull it away, and drop the white stuff where it was not in the way.

I couldn't believe the amount of snow that had fallen. Even though we get someone to plow our driveway, the distance from the garage to the driveway is about twenty feet, and snow that had accumulated to a depth of approximately three feet is a lot! I started to shovel from the garage door, whereas my husband started to pick up snow from the other end, and at one point, we expected to meet in the middle. I noticed that he was beginning to look a bit tired, so I told him that we needed to stop, go inside, and have a nice cup of tea. No sooner had I said this than he fell.

I dropped my shovel and waded through knee-deep snow to reach him. He has problems with his knees and just couldn't get up. He finally did get up on one knee, and holding on to the side of the snowbank, he tried again. But because he was tired and weak, he couldn't get up. I was starting to panic. I ran to get my shovel for him to use as a sort of cane, but that didn't work either. I told my husband that I would have to call 911. Of course, he told me a firm, "No."

Still on his knee, I placed the shovel in front of him and told him to hold on, while I tried to lift him by placing my left arm under his right underarm. I said a quick, "Lord, I need your help," and started to pull. It worked. He was a bit wobbly, but he was standing. He fell again going up the stairs to our front door, but was able to pull himself up with the aid of the handrail and me.

This entire incident reminded me of the many times that I have fallen — whether it be talking behind someone's back, telling a little "white lie", or keeping silent when I was supposed to speak out or stand up for someone.

1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV)

My friends, God is able to make us stand again, once we acknowledge what we have done, repent, and ask for forgiveness.

Prayer: Lord God, we don't understand how You can hear our individual cries for help, but Your Word tells us that You do. Lord, help us in our time of need. Instill in us a desire to know You better and to set aside time with You alone, and grant us the strength to accept what is. Forgive us when we fall, and help us to stand again. Amen.

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About the author:

Rosemary Hagedorn <rosyhagedorn@gmail.com>
Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada
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