The Stanfords lived on a farm in Minnesota where it got very cold in the winter, and the snow piled up in deep drifts.
One morning after a blizzard had raged all night, Mrs. Stanford got up to fix breakfast. The sun was just beginning to peep through the bedroom window.
“There sure is lots of snow out there,” she said to her husband, as he was getting ready to go out for chores. “But I think the plow has already cleared the road at the end of our lane so the school bus can get through.”
Even though the sun was shining through the upstairs windows, when Mrs. Stanford came downstairs it was still dark. She had to turn the lights on just to see where she was going. Where was the sunshine? Looking at the kitchen window, she saw that snow had drifted so high during the night that it had covered the first floor windows!
“You had better waken the children,” she called to her husband. “There’s lots of shoveling to do to get out to the road.”
When the children saw all the snow, Ned, the oldest, said, “We’ll never be able to get through all that snow in the lane!” He smiled to himself as he added, “So I don’t think we can go to school today, can we, Dad?”
“I think you can,” Mr. Stanford answered, “but let’s eat breakfast first.”
Mr. Stanford knew that there wasn’t enough time to shovel his way out to the barn to get the tractor so he could plow out the lane before the bus came. He was wishing their snowmobile had been repaired so they could use it now. But since it wasn’t, he would have to come up with another plan.
When the children were ready for school, Mr. Stanford handed Ned a shovel while he got another one. “First we have to dig through the drift by the house, Ned.”
Working quickly, Ned and his dad cut through the drift that crossed the front yard. But now the quarter-mile lane out to the road looked like a sea of white.
“We can’t shovel through all of that,” complained Ned.
“We don’t have to,” replied Mr. Stanford.
The younger children were soon dressed warmly. As they started down the lane, Ned said, “We can’t walk on that snow. We’ll sink in up to our necks!”
“Wait and see,” said Mr. Stanford. “Now follow me. Put your feet exactly where I place mine, and you won’t have any trouble.” With that he started forward, his big boots sinking deep in the snow, packing down each step so there were footsteps which the children could use.
For each of us who knows the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, this story is a good example of how we should follow Him. He has walked through this world and marked out a path. His pathway is recorded in the Bible: “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:2121For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: (1 Peter 2:21)). If we follow His instructions carefully, He will guide us along the path.
The children put their little boots down into the deep holes made by their father’s boots. Gradually they trudged down the lane. It was very slow going because the holes were so deep that it was hard for them to lift their shorter legs out. But everyone kept moving forward, and soon they were out to the plowed road, just as the bus arrived.
Do you know the Lord Jesus as your Saviour? He loves you and wants you to accept Him right now. On the cross He was punished for the sins of all who would accept Him as their own Saviour. Are you one of these? You can be if you’ll admit that you are a sinner and accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour. Then you will be able to say, “Thou [the Lord Jesus] wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:1111Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11)).
ML-02/03/2008