SEASONS ALWAYS BRING CHANGE
As we near the end of summer, I notice that I have a mind shift. My mind is changing gears all toward getting the kids back to school. Fascinating, since just 3 weeks ago we were preparing to go on our family vacation!
Then I realized how our lives really have seasons not unlike the weather.
We have the season of our youth until we graduate and change seasons all along the way. The season really changes after graduation as we gain more responsibility on our path to adulthood. During all of this time we can have our rainy periods where it seems as if life is against us. "When it rains, it pours." We also have our sunshine periods of time where "life is good" and going our way.
After we get to adulthood we move onto our next season of marriage. How different our lives become in this season because it's about 2 people now and just yourself. This season is not without its storms like those little disagreements and arguments you may have from time to time. It also has lots of sunshine especially if you have to kiss and makeup! The sunshine helps the growing season of building a life together. After a while the season changes once we start having children. This is a big one! Sometimes it's easy to prepare for this season and sometimes it's not. It doesn't matter if you are prepared it will happen!! Thinking of the birth of your child is really like a beautiful spring day when all is in bloom following the long,
harsh winter. During this season it can really have some changing weather. How about teething? Yes, it is like a stormy night! Thinking of all of the milestones the first year brings is like fresh falling snow of winter, pure and untouched. The first year is like a season within a season, very complex because it all so new! As your child gets older you are going through other seasons such as starting school. This is a big season you will be in for 13 years! It encompasses all kinds of weather as with emotion. For example, puberty can be as violent as a thunderstorm for some or as calm as the lake on a clear day for others. We end up circling their vortex don't we??? Graduation is bittersweet like the beauty of fall with winter looming behind it. We can't wait but we don't want them to go.
As our children grow up we move into another season. This one takes a little getting used to. For the person who whole life was being someone's mom this can feel like being trapped in your car in the middle of a blizzard. Your lost without your child's activities and interests. It's almost suffocating to have the empty nest. For the person who developed other interests alongside their child this time is like spring. It's a rebirth of new adventures and activities. Maybe you've decided to take a class, learn a new language or even start a new career. The possibilities are endless...
As the seasons continue to change, change is inevitable. This is the same for people as well. CHANGE is INEVITABLE!! Even for control freaks like me, I am a reformed control freak! Do you recognize what season you are in? Bear in mind, it's temporary as all time is. In a blink of an eye time changes by a second. See, it's temporary! This is good to keep in mind if you are in a season you aren't particularly thrilled with.
Sometimes we affect our own change of season. Job changes, retirement, divorce or going back to school are some of the ways we use to affect our season.
Does choosing our season make it easier or harder? It depends. It might make it harder at first but then become easier. For example, going back to school may be really tough to adjust to with the additional work. The reward of a better paying job may actually make your life easier. Retiring can be difficult for some because it's a change and we all know that change can be scary. However, after the adjustment period is over, life is GOOD!
We must not let our emotions control our season. What is most important is for you to embrace the season you are in with all that comes with it.
Enjoy-
Darlene
