did you know today is the first day of fall? i love the shifting of the seasons, though it’s much more subtle here in arizona. the 100 degree days don’t exactly scream, *fall is here!!* the leaves don’t turn beautiful hues of red, orange, and yellow, but the mornings have turned a lovely 70 degrees, and once they dip into the 60s, we shout hallelujah from the tops of the palm trees, all while chugging pumpkin spice lattes. serious.
i got to thinking about the changing seasons and about how i went all *debbie downer* on y’all the other night. i was feeling exhausted, inadequate, unaccomplished, a bit of a failure. and as i compared the two {my feelings and the changing seasons}, it got me thinking about the seasons of life.
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we’ve all heard it before. something along the lines of :
*that’s just the season of life you’re in right now.*
*this too shall pass.*
*you’re going to miss this when it’s gone.*
all of which i know to be true. i WILL miss having my babies running around, snuggling up to read books, and the random hugs, kisses and *i love you’s* that are so prominent right now in this season of our lives. but i’m going to be honest here. i’m not {i can almost guarantee it}, i’m not going to miss the exhaustion, the feelings of inadequacy, the feeling of too-much-to-do-not-enough-time-to-do-it-in, the discouragement.
no. that? that, i’m not going to miss.
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and then i started thinking farther down the road to a different season of my life; to when my kids are grown and gone. where suddenly, i’ll have time up the wazoo. more *me* time than i’ll know what to do with. and the house will be quiet. and clean. and calm. and to be frank, i’m probably not going to like that either.
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so, can i be selfish for a moment? selfishly i wonder, wouldn’t it be nice if i could have a bit of each season moosh-ed together into one awesome season of life? you know…where i get all the hugs and loves and book reading and giggles, mixed with a dash of *me* time, a bit of time with lover, and a pinch of a career. please? please? please? no?…well, you can’t say i didn’t try.
as i re-read that last paragraph, i am reminded that even the Bible says there is a time for every season of our lives in ecclesiastes 3 :
there is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
there truly is a time and place for everything. everything in its season. not lumped perfectly into one awesome lump-of-a-season as i’d hoped, but in evenly distributed seasons peppered with both the good and the bad, the trying and the restful, just as the Lord has laid it out for each of us. each *tougher* season, helping us grow stronger in faith, in character, in love. even if we can’t see it right this very moment.
so yes, this too shall pass, but for now? i’m going to embrace this season. the good and the exhausting. the successes and the feelings of inadequacy. the joys and the failures. i’m going to be grateful for all i have, to focus on the little things, and to not grow weary.
blessings *
p.s. i’m starting something new! {throws pretend fall leaves in the air. *hurray! hurray!*} if you are a blogger, i would love to read what’s on your mind and in your heart. please leave a link below, so i and other readers can find your lovely blog! xo * stac
Lisa Wagner - I have no idea why i keep getting ???? At the end of my comments! Ugh!
Lisa Wagner - Love this and love you my friend! If i was there i’d shout hurray from the tops of the palm trees with you {all while sipping our pumpkin lattes of course}!!! Yay for embracing this season, you’ve challenged me to embrace mine! ?????