Seasons

Sometimes we are ready for the seasons to change not only outside the window, but also inside our lives.  And then again sometimes we aren’t.  Today, whether you find yourself hanging on for dear life and avoiding change or you are so ready to say good-bye to where you currently are in hopes that the next place will be better, this is for you…

I recently flew up north to Illinois to visit my family. My sister has an 18 month old and just delivered her second baby so I wanted to be available to help.  One afternoon I was watching my nephew while his mom and dad were at the hospital with baby brother.  We played with blocks, we built towers and knocked them down, we read books and lined up all the animals and, of course, we made each animal’s unique sound while we did it. I was the tickle monster and would chase him and try to steal his blanket.  We had such a great time! 

And when I was out of ideas of what to play we did what most moms (or aunts) do nowadays and we pulled out the snapchat filters hahaha.  I seriously wish these were a thing when I had toddlers!  They just laugh and laugh as they are magically transformed into a puppy or a bunny, have their face stretched and smashed or their voice changed.  I do have to admit that that he did look a bit concerned as his head morphed into a rainbow poop emoji and then a dancing flower.  Either way, this activity provided much entertainment for both of us lol.

When I laid him down for naptime I took a seat by the big, square living room windows and paused to just take in the beauty of their yard.  Now don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love sunny Arizona and the desert landscape.  I wouldn’t trade the various species of cacti, the amazing mountains, and the greatest sunsets I have ever seen.  I am a Midwest girl born and raised though and I am sure to make it up north at least once or twice every year in the fall.

Ahhhhh…. fall.  There’s just something about it, isn’t there?  There’s nothing like the crisp air and changing colors, the sound of football, or the smell of hot apple cider.  It’s such a special time of the year and a truly beautiful season.  I know not everyone is a fan though.  While many are excited to embrace the new and love the changing of the seasons others reject the transition.  They know that “Hello Fall” means “Goodbye Summer” and before long they’ll be staring down the icy barrel of winter. They just aren’t ready and I get it.

In fact, I have found this resistance to change not only in weather patterns, but also in life. Our lives are made up of seasons and the seasons are ever-changing whether we like it or not.  There are seasons in our friendships, in our marriages and in our families.  There are seasons in our education, our careers and passions.  Seasons come and seasons go.  We can fight the change or we can embrace it, living fully in each season that we enter.

I may miss summer and feel unprepared for winter, but that doesn’t change the fact that what’s in the past is in the past and what is ahead is what is ahead.  The only thing that happens when I resist change or wish to skip forward is missing out on the joy of what God has for me right now where I am.

So…. To those who are living in the past… STOP.  To those who are wishing time would speed up and plant you in the next place… STOP.  And to the people like me who, if not careful, can have the tendency to do both…. STOP. As many have said before me… “Stop and smell the roses!”

Our middle child, Stasia, who is already almost 11 years old was, and still is, that voice for me.  Since she could talk she has been telling me to “Wait Mom!” or to “Slow Down Mom!” and yes to “Stop and Smell The Flowers Mom!”  Years ago, we took a family trip to Wisconsin Dells and we were at an amusement park for the day.  We were trying to get to the next ride, so I was rushing everyone along. As usual, Stasia was lagging behind.

“Come on honey!  Let’s go!”  I yelled.

She did not speed up.  Nope.  She stopped.   {If you know my feisty creative kiddo or have one of your own then this does not surprise you.  She has always had a mind of her own.} 

So I walked back to her and said “Stasia come on, it’s time to go.  Don’t you want to get to the next ride?” 

“No Mom.  I want to smell the flowers.  Mom, aren’t they pretty?  Mom look.  Mom smell.”

Now let’s be honest for just a moment. My personality type probably felt like responding with “Honey there’s no time for that.  We didn’t pay all this money to come to this place to smell the flowers.  We can do that at home.  We came here to have fun.  We have places to be and things to do so let’s get a move on!” 

< It’s okay to laugh because we can all recognize that’s ridiculous. And yet I have to admit that I have said similar in the past.  Please tell me I am not alone here! >

Thank God my response was a little more poised that day as I said, “I see Stasia, now let’s go.”  But she wasn’t satisfied.

“No Mom, look.  REALLY look.”  So I did.  I bent down.  I looked.  I smelled.  And I smiled.  God was using this little one, yet again, to force me to stop and remember what really matters in life.  It’s not about where you were.  It’s not about where you’re going.  Even though those are important to know, life is about enjoying where you are NOW and the season you are currently in. 

In Illinois I held my tiny 2 day old perfect little nephew and thought about how much I loved when my kids were babies.  I began to think, “Where has the time gone?  I have a middle schooler and my baby is seven years old!” For a moment, I was a little sad.  I loved that season.  But I love now too.

I love shopping with my girls, laughing and exploring with them.  I love going to all the games to cheer on our cheerleader.  I love watching my son discover what he is good at and seeing him thrive with friends and at school. I even love still being called out by my creative second born because she sees things in the world that I would otherwise miss.  I wouldn’t trade this season of watching them figure out their strengths and passions, exploring faith for themselves and dreaming of what they one day could become.

My encouragement to you today is whether you are in a season that you want to just be over or in a season that you wish would never end just remember:

This is a season. It won’t last.

This is a season.  It too shall pass. 

Enjoy today.  Be here now.  Be fully present in THIS season.  Savor each moment.  Say what is in your heart to those that you love.  Find the beauty in the chaos.  Search for the purpose in the pain.  Walk a little slower, look a little deeper, ask a few more questions and listen a little longer.  Stop and look.  No, really look.  You will be amazed at the beautiful life you find right in front of you.