“Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.” Psalm 73:23 ESV

I remember vividly coming to mamaw and papaw’s house for Christmas when we lived in Fort Worth, TX, while dad pursued his Master’s Degree (and graduated) from seminary. This would have been around 1969 or 1970.

The travel time was really long in that old Ford Fairlane station wagon. We drove through Texarkana, Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville and into Kentucky. As we came out of Jellico, TN the snow started. We were within 60 miles of our destination.

In those days, road plows were rare and especially rare during the holidays. I remember mom being nervous. My sisters and I being awestruck by the snow, at first, then becoming increasingly worried as the inches piled up. Dad kept driving. Resolute. Focused. Assuring. Carefully passing those who had pulled over or who clearly lacked his ability to navigate this white gift.

As we got to the Mt. Vernon exit it hit me that we had to go down ‘Big Hill.’ So named because it truly was a big hill. For those with knowledge of road grades, probably a 10-degree slope for at least a half mile. The road down Big Hill had literally been cut into the side of the mountain, with turns and twists for that treacherous 1/2 mile. And I guess for budgetary or lack of proper machinery reasons, a guard rail had never been installed.

My questions spewed out as my nervousness grew. ‘Dad, should we stay somewhere else tonight?’ ‘Dad, are we going to be okay?’ ‘Dad, what happens if we slide over Big Hill and down the mountain?’ And on and on. My father, in that moment patiently answered my questions, allowed me to snuggle up right next to him, sans seatbelts or car seat. Apparently I grew up during the period of negligent parenting, yet miraculously survived. Ah, another story for another time. Dad knew that in that moment, his presence was paramount for my little heart’s peace and feeling of safety.

As we crested Bill Hill and began the descent, my heart raced, my anxiety became outright panic and my fear of the unknown almost too much to bear. Dad kept driving. I look anxiously around the car and my sisters were calm and looking at the beautiful snow all around. Finally, beautifully, assuringly, lovingly my oldest sister said “Myron, we’re fine. Dad knows what he is doing. He would never allow us to get hurt.” Immediately, her words of assurance and wisdom, because she is 5 years older than me, released all my emotions of fear and dread. Dad had us close and safe.

Dad skillfully went to the side of the road closest to the mountain and furthest from the edge and drop off. He put the driver’s side wheels in the rut that water runoff had eroded and that rut served as a guide and guard as we conquered Bill Hill, which when we reached the bottom was not so big after all.

Christmas that year was especially awesome because we played in the snow for what seemed like eternity. Forgetting the stresses and time of the journey and experiencing the joy, love, play and laughter of the destination. Papaw and Mamaw’s little green oasis tucked in that little Kentucky holler.

My prayer for you is that you see that the obstacles placed in your life’s path are there to draw you closer to our Dad in Heaven. That you see and understand that what causes us to fear, God has already conquered. That by releasing your anxiety of the unknown to the Author of all, allows hope and joy to invade your life with the refreshing blanket of new fallen snow. That by surrendering your life’s journey, the eternal joy and love awaits to reward you in infinitely greater ways than those moments or seasons of worry.

The lyrics to that beautiful hymn ring out “trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.”

My prayer for you this Christmas Season is that a blanket of safety and an understanding of a life surrendered to Jesus becomes more than enough. It is.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 ESV

You’ve got this.