Don’t be afraid to let it show

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON

“The New Year lies before you like a spotless track of snow. Be

careful how you tread on it, for every mark will show.”

-- UNKNOWN

“What the New Year brings us will depend a great deal on what we

bring the New Year.”

-- UNKNOWN

I love children, I love snow and I love new beginnings. We are in

a new year, but I learned some things from the ending of last year

that I hope to practice more in 2004.

One day, I passed a little boy walking next to his mother’s

shopping cart in the market. The cart was filled with food, as well

as a cute little girl who giggled while her brother sang. I heard

part of one song, and while the tune was correct, the words weren’t

what we typically sing, but they worked, and they made everyone

around smile.

“Let it show, let it show, let is show,” he sang.

“You’re right honey,” his mother said, “Let it show and let the

snow show too, it feels like it could snow today.”

The little boy was already onto another song before I went to the

next aisle, but I appreciated seeing his joy show, no matter what he

sang.

Once outside, there was snow showing and shining on the mountains

beneath a piercing blue sky. It was as if God had painted a

masterpiece in every direction I looked, and I stopped and marveled

at God’s creativity.

I talked about snow later with a friend who had recently gone

skiing.

“The snow was beautiful, it was so fresh and clean, like a new

year,” she said. “I didn’t make any resolutions, but I decided that

one goal is to pray before I say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to any new commitment

or project, no matter how great it sounds at first. Then I have to

run my thoughts past someone who knows how busy my life is before I

agree to anything.”

I told her that was a great idea and one that I try as well

because I can easily rush into decisions without thinking about

ramifications. Once I agreed to speak at a retreat without praying

about it or discussing it at length with my husband, Jon. I didn’t

feel an inner peace about it, especially when I realized my schedule

was already too full. I’d never canceled something before but I

sensed that God wanted me to. After agonizing about it, I finally

called the retreat organizer and was honest about my situation.

“Thank you, Cindy,” she said. “The timing wasn’t working out for

us either, but I didn’t want to call and cancel.”

I returned to that market recently, and the holiday music has been

replaced with other tunes, but children still sang up and down the

aisles. I later drove around town and admired the churning ocean in

one direction, the changing clouds overhead and the snow on the

mountains. I haven’t been to the snow yet this year, but I have

thought about what I want to bring to this new year, and my desire to

be more purposeful and prayerful in the days and months ahead.

One of my goals is to spend more time with God, and I pray that

there will be a positive difference in my life that will show like

tracks in the snow.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at

cindy@onthegrow.com or through the mail at 537 Newport Center Drive,

Suite 505, Newport Beach, CA 92660.