The other day I went into our basement to retrieve a tool when something caught my eye.
There it was, tucked in a dark corner, cobwebs connecting it to the drywall — a SnowSport Torpedo sled. Seeing it brought a smile to my face. We bought it in 1993 after that historic snowstorm that dumped 13 inches of the fluffy, white stuff on our suburban Birmingham home.
Exciting times
At the time our kids were ages 9 and 7 and so excited about playing in the snow. There were some hills close by, and neighborhood kids were using everything from cardboard boxes to plastic wrap in an effort to slide down the slopes.
I vividly recall going to a local store called Herb’s Hardware, which no longer exists. We were just hoping to find a saucer or something similar that might work. We were pleasantly shocked to see a good old Northern-style wooden sled with metal runners on display. We bought it immediately, and the kids were the envy of the neighborhood when they brought it to the hill.
But after a few days, the snow melted away, of course, and the sled retired into a remote corner of the basement garage, waiting for action when the next big snowfall arrived.
Be ready
Thirty years have passed. My kids are now approaching middle-aged adulthood and have young children of their own, children who, to the best of my knowledge, have never had the chance to play in significant snow. We’re still waiting for that next major snowfall.
The sled has never been used again. It has been sitting in that corner for more than three decades. Still, seeing it every once in a while brings me joy. There’s no telling when or if the next heavy snow cover will happen in these parts. But when it does, I rest secure knowing we are prepared. There will be no cardboard boxes for my grandkids. The SnowSport Torpedo stands ready.
Life can get stormy sometimes. Being ready is important there too. Really important. We need to be ready for the storms of adversity that we will all face, those storms that only God can calm. Don’t let your Christian walk lay stagnant in a dark corner gathering cobwebs. Unlike the next snowfall, hardship could arrive anytime, anywhere, without warning.
Get to know Jesus now, because facing adversity unprepared could be very tough sledding.
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