This photo can only be described as delightful. The photo was issued by the Durham Wildlife Trust of a harvest mouse. The rare rodent has seen a resurgence in numbers in recent years. Photo by the Press Association

Thought on Saturday – January – 16/01/2021

There is a fable told about a robin watching snow fall in a forest. It watched as the flakes of snow tumbled down, landing on a branch before it. It counted each flake all the way up to 4500, 4501, 4502, 4503, 4504 and then on 4505 the little branch snapped with the weight of the snow. It marveled at the strength, power and difference that one tiny flake could make. It thought about the 4504 flakes that fell before it, all making a difference but yet one had the biggest effect of all.

We had a little snow last week. There wasn’t enough to get too excited about but still enough to transform the landscape from ordinary into something beautiful. There is nothing like the feeling of walking on snow that nobody else has walked on. It’s never the same after lots of footprints.

We are told each flake of snow is different in shape and size. Each one is a little miracle in itself. Snow has the ability to transform the landscape and turn even the bleakest and darkest spots into great beauty. Spiritually snow reminds us that we too are precious and unique. We may think we don’t make a difference. But like the tiny flake of snow breaking a branch, we too can leave a mark, imprint and bring a significant difference to every day that is God’s gift to us.

Last Sunday we celebrated the feast of the Baptism of Jesus. It also puts the spotlight on our baptism. We sometimes see it as a once off event, somewhere in the past, not worth thinking much about any more. But our baptism is a daily reminder that we are also precious, special and unique. This reminder is not occasional or sometimes but every single day. Our baptism like our fingerprint, marking us out as precious and special in God’s constant love for us.