THURSDAY, July 9

In southeast Texas, everyone is ready for winter by July. But all who have lived here for any length of time know that the "winter" is about five scattered days in January when temperatures dip into the thirties.

We know there are places with cold winter snow, but not here. My grandson's preschool class studied snow so thoroughly that he longed to see it. He often asked why it doesn't snow here. "It's too hot," I explained. "We'll have to take a trip to where it snows."

Before sunrise one morning in March of our first year in the country, as I opened the door for the pre-dawn dog walk, I saw wafer-sized snowflakes falling like ticker tape at a parade. Undisturbed snow covered the landscape like baptismal linens. "It's snowing!" I exclaimed. My husband appeared behind me, gazing in wonder.

By the time the sun appeared and people darted to work and school, all the snow had melted away. But in offices, stores, and restaurants all day, everyone happily talked about snow. My daughter got a picture of my grandson holding his baby sister in the falling flakes. With great joy, they saw the blessing.

PRAY for the Diocese of Christ the King (Southern Africa)