For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break 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 cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ESV
I've spent thirty-nine of my fifty-three years living on the coast. Both my dad and my former husband were in the Navy. Since 2009 I've lived here in Idaho where four seasons, which seem more like three because spring is just a rainy, soggy mess, exist and I am not a fan of cold icky weather. I like being able to go to the beach in January. Yet, in these last ten year's God has really been showing me the beauty of each season. I still may not like it but I'm finding the beauty in each one. The quiet that winter brings is strangely becoming a favorite.
Learning to enjoy not only the changing weather seasons but the changing seasons of our lives is something I have struggled with. Like you, I've had different season's during my life . . . a mom raising young children, learning how to live with a chronic illness, going through a divorce, remarriage and blending a family, adult children coming home and leaving the nest again, being a gramma, and now a daughter with her dad's declining memory. Some of these I am still in the midst of, other's have passed. However, God has shown me the beauty in each one which has made the painfulness of the hard ones easier to live through.
I don't know what season of life you are in, but I want to encourage you that God will show you the beauty in the midst and grant you peace and calm. I've experienced this and I know He will fill in the gaps, smooth over, any rough edges, and when you look back just like the Footprints poem you will see where He carried and lifted you.
Visit my friends for more Thursday Encouragement.
Trisha @ Joy of Reading
Nicole @ Christian Fiction Girl
Jacquelyn @ A Heavenly Home
Jessica @ A Baker's Perspective
Becca @ The Becca Files
Gina @ Stories by Gina
Rebecca @ Rev. Rebecca Writes
2 comments:
Sorry about your seasonal struggles. I love the passage you shared because it's comforting for me in those difficult times as well.
I'm glad this scripture was comforting for you. I'm getting better at enjoying each season. It has been an adjustment. I love how God uses times like these to show His peace and calm even if we may not like it. ;)
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