Photo by Chris Lawton on Unsplash
We see this in the seasons of childhood and school, the seasons we walk through each decade, and the seasons of our careers.
I’ve always gravitated toward the year’s seasons and how they reflect our seasons of life.
Here’s what I mean:
Winter is the season of hibernation and resting, holding steady. It is also the season of sadness, sickness, and loneliness. There are seasons in life and family of sorrow, illness, and loneliness. Seasons of resting and clearing the calendar to sit by the fire. Winter is also the season of preparation because you aren’t doing other activities.
While it can feel like nothing is happening in winter, many things are happening in winter.
Spring is the season of new beginnings and opportunities, the season of hope. Life is blooming. This season can feel like a shotgun went off. Like it is all of a sudden busy. Everything is happening at once. This season can start with a new job, opportunity, or school year. I remember a farmer telling me once that to have a great fall; you have to jump on the opportunity in spring and work harder than you think.
Summer is the season of growth, enjoyment, and fun. Summer is the season of life when you begin to see the payoff for some of what you did in life. In the summer, you also need to be pruning your life to live effectively and at a sustainable pace. In farming, you are weeding, protecting what matters to you. Summer can also be the time you are tempted to sit back, but if you do, that’s when you can lose your crop.
Fall is the harvest season. We reap all that we have sown in the fall. Fall is when you see the results of what you did and either celebrate or lament. Fall is the season of change; the leaves change, and the weather gets colder. Fall is also the time that you prepare for winter. You winterize your house and pipes. The same is true in life and relationships. You need to prepare for winter.
Which season are you in personally? What about your spouse and each one of your kids?
This is because if we don’t know which season we are in, we will be unprepared for the next season. We will also miss the blessings that each season brings.
Winter brings the blessings of slower times, sitting by the fire and relaxing, doing a puzzle, and being together with family and friends.
Spring brings the blessings of warmer days, walking outside, and beginning gardens and new rhythms.
Summer brings the blessings of longer days, picnics and beach days with friends and family, and vacations from school and work.
Fall brings the blessings of a new school year, new adventures, and cooler temperatures.
Each season has its blessings, but it also has its challenges.
Winter brings the challenges of sadness and loneliness. The days are shorter, and the nights are longer.
Spring brings the challenges of busyness and feeling behind.
Summer brings the challenges of a new schedule that can throw your life into chaos.
Fall brings the challenges of being behind the eight ball and not being prepared.
