Seasons

Seasons.  Just like nature can't work without seasons we too don't thrive without them. As much as I would like to think one could survive without winter we can't. Without a winter you won't get a spring, without a summer you won't get an autumn.  Its a circle, a life circle.

And like we experience in the world around us, we too walk through seasons. Some we like to stroll on through at a leisurely pace, some we wish we could sprint through. We have to leave one to experience the next. And sometimes it creates a vacuum of emotions. Some precious people around me are currently walking in one season and into the other and my heart is with them.

A friend is celebrating her baby girls first birthday today, in replying to my text today she said she was feeling very emotional. I think most mothers experience (well I would like to think that most mothers do) that crazy myriad of emotions of marking your wee ones first birthday. I know its something that I felt with each and every baby's of mine as they turned one! The reflection of their birth, the grieving and sadness of the end of baby-hood, celebration of making it through the first year and the excitement, anticipation of the years to come.  A strange but good day!

Another dear friend has a daughter getting married today.  She is saying goodbye to one season and hello to the next. This day again, is a day of mixed emotions as the sweet girl she brought into this world and nurtured until this day is leaving the 'nest' and is being joined together with her true love. This is something I have yet to experience as none of my children are old enough yet but I can tell you now just the thought of that brings tears to my eyes. I just want to hug my children close.

Another beautiful friend has left her comfort zone and has stepped into a whole new and foreign (albeit God appointed) world where she is in the process of finding her feet and discovering where and how she fits. She is doing so awesome!

Another dear couple is coming to the end of a season unsure of what the next one will hold or what it even looks like right now but are opening themselves to whatever God has for them. What a faith step!

Its beautiful thing to watch the seasons change for they each come with struggles unique to them but they are filled with such beauty and deep growth.  You might just need to look a little harder at times.

God has gifted us the ability to feel feelings.  For if we did not feel we wouldn't be alive, we wouldn't be living.  Each feeling is a precious gift. If we did not allow ourselves to feel deep sadness and hurt we wouldn't fully appreciate the feeling of immense joy and happiness.  If we didn't experience joy and happiness we wouldn't have anything to get us through the dark sad times.

   There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven-- 2A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. 3A 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. 5A 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. 7A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. 8A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace. - Ecclesiastes 3:9

I liken the seasons that we walk through to birth. (Just because I am a self-confessed birth nerd.)
The pain, intensity and surrendering of ones control (however that happens for you) is necessary to experience the intense and pure joy of holding your sweet bundle of squishy-brand-newness in your arms.

So whatever season of life you find yourself allow yourself to feel whatever emotion and feelings that come your way. 

Look around to where you are right now, is there an opportunity to learn or to grow? Is there someone you can connect with to help you along or perhaps you can help along? 

Are you on the brink of a change of season, wading through the thick winter mud or basking in the summer sun of life?