Seasons

When you think of seasons, you think of varying times of the year...Spring, Summer, Winter, or Fall.  Each season brings its own characteristics, activities, and celebrations.  In Springtime, we celebrate new beginnings, Easter, rain, new growth and new life.  In Summer, we enjoy the warm temperatures, enjoying water activities, and time off for vacations.  In Fall, we celebrate the harvest and thanksgiving.  In Winter, we celebrate Christmastime, and the Earth rests. 

Each season has characteristics unto itself, and things remain the same for a brief time.  Then, a gradual transition occurs, blending, changing into the season that follows.  Many of us have our favorite seasons throughout the year.  Each season brings its own exciting times and downsides (110 degree days of Summer, anyone?).  Additionally, each season reaps some of the benefits from the time before it, while also leaving some things for the time that follows.  One thing is constant for all seasons...the seasons CHANGE.

"No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn."~~Hal Borland

There are many seasons throughout our lifetime as well.  Some seasons are experienced by all, and some by only a few.  Seasons of life might include childhood, adolescence, death, illness, marriage, new family, friendships, work, just to name a few.  Like seasons of the year, everyone has their own favorite seasons throughout their life.  Some of these seasons reap benefits from ones that come before it, and provide benefits for the ones that follow.  However, unlike the seasons of the year, while some seasons of life are gradual transitions, others are more sudden.  Again, one thing that is constant for ALL the seasons....the seasons CHANGE.

The critical task we face is to embrace the season in which we find ourselves. 

What does this season bring or provide? What can we learn or glean from this time? It is important to pay attention IN the season in which we find ourselves, to do our best WITHIN that season.  Sometimes, we are more successful in some seasons than others.  In particularly difficult seasons, we may remind ourselves that we can rely on it changing.  Although in particularly joyful seasons, we must remind ourselves that a transition is surely coming.

EMBRACE this season.

RESPECT what its purpose is for your life.

REFLECT on what needs to be gleaned from it. 

Whether this season is a difficult or joyful one, as seasoning adds flavoring, allow this season to ADD to this life!

"There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every even under heaven--

A time to give birth, and a time to die;

A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

A time to tear down, and a time to build up.

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn, and a time to dance.

A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing.

A time to search, and a time to give up as lost;

A time to keep, and a time to throw away.

A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together,

A time to be silent, and a time to speak.

A time to love, and a time to hate;

A time for war, and a time for peace....

...He has made everything appropriate in its time."~~Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11