Seasons of Life

Seasons come and seasons go. The summer season is now gone. School starts on Monday.  A new beginning. Beautiful memories of our summer vacation days. Patrick and I had a 10 day road trip visiting churches, friends, and small groups. A great time. Two days after returning home, he went to Haiti. The children had a 10 road trip to Michigan and back. Great memories. They learned so much on the farm, canoeing on the lake, going to Mammoth Cave. All new experiences. They had many beach days. Another highlight, I had 5 days alone at home, just God and I. It was a great experience. I was also privileged to enjoy my mother's 93 birthday.

Seasons of Life. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 cites many seasons. Some things are but a passing moment, but then there are those times which are truly seasons. For  example vs 2, "there is a time to give birth." Giving birth doesn't stop there, the season of raising our children lasts many years. Those years bring times of laughter and tears. Raising children is a very emotional time for a mother. And then, suddenly that season is done, and our children are gone. As difficult as it is, to see our children leave "the nest," I remember telling our children, "I didn't raise you to sit at home and nest, I raised you to go out and make a difference wherever you are."

Mourning is a difficult season. Psalm 30:11"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness." Even that season, will eventually turn to a more joyous time.

For those of you who are hoarders, stashing everything: there is a season for you. Vs 6 "...a time to keep and a time to throw away." What a job that is!! Shall I keep this or throw it away? There is a time to throw away...you may give it to Goodwill, a garage sale (did you know you can donate your unused items to a fund-raiser garage sale for Kingdom Kids in Haiti?). By the way, it is much easier to clean a house that isn't loaded with "stuff."

A season of speaking and one of silence. Now that is a difficult one. Truly it is a refreshing time when I just reflect and listen. A lot can be learned in a time of silence. My family may read this and wonder if that ever happens in my life, the silence. Smile. But it does happen. It is so important to be silent when God speaks. Hear Him. Don't try to defend yourself. He already knows your heart.

Eccl 3:11 "He has set eternity in their hearts" is one season that will not end...eternity. Whatever you are going through right now, remember it is a season. The seasons of life are for our learning and drawing closer to God. It is a preparation time for Eternity. The secret to enduring the seasons of life is to keep our eyes on Him and not on the misery of the season. Trust the God of the circumstance and not the circumstance. We may not always understand, but God sees the beginning from the end.

I hope your summer vacation (season) was a blessing to you. Now we move to the season of school months again. Let's make them a blessing to our children and their teachers.

If you need information about the Fund-raiser Garage Sale, contact me at:  livingwordhaiti@me.com

His Grace Abounds
Barb