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Seasons…Part of Living

Thoughts and Reflections on LifeLeave a comment

today, tomorrow & every day  – THOUGHTS ON LIVING A BRAVE AND REAL AND GORGEOUS LIFE.        Written by M.H. Clark and illustrated by Jill Labieniec.

Here are my continued thoughts on this amazing book I received as a gift.

“Things really changed,” she said, “when I started to be more generous to myself.”

“I began to try to live like a tree,” she said…

“Who understand that life is filled with seasons and each one has its worth.                                                                        I stopped fearing the leaves falling away, the bare branches.                                                                                                         I understood that spring would come, that summer would come, that it was all a part of my living.”

Seasons.  I love the four seasons where I live! When the seasons change, so does life around us. We do things differently.  Some seasons are more enjoyable than others.  For me, winter is my least favorite.  The sun does not shine as much and it’s cold. It takes more work to be outside.  Occasionally I’m fearful of driving in winter weather.  The lack of sunshine can cause some seasonal affective issues.  We muddle through it and wait for spring.

Seasons of life are much the same.  We experience things that change as time goes on.

Some seasons are wonderful! When relationships are thriving…life is good.  When our job is going well… .life is good.  When our health is strong… life is good.

At times we go through seasons that are not so wonderful.  Troubled relationships… job stress or unemployment… health issues.

When in a season of struggle, I used to pray for it to be over or not happen at all.  Over time I’ve learned to lean into the struggle and ride the wave…waiting for the Lord to show His presence.  He never told us life would be easy, but He did tell us that He would be alongside us or holding us tight.  It took some really difficult seasons for me to learn this.  I’ve learned to praise Him in the storm.

Be still and know that I am God… my favorite Psalm.  It’s being still in winter and finding the joy of the season I like the least. When things are tough, I’ve experienced great peace while life is crumbling around me.  Pressing in to the Lord helps get us through the difficult time and ushers us into the next season.

I’ll be honest.  I’ve never had a difficult season that has lasted for great lengths of time.  I’ve known people that permanently live in struggle… at least in my perception.  They’ve learned to stop fearing the struggle and find the joys. In a sense, they move in and out of joy and struggles in one day.

Seasons come and seasons go… that is all part of our lives.  I want to be like that tree that stands tall and still as the seasons move around me. I want to be strong, even when I feel weak. I want to be full of life, even when I might be empty. I want to be more generous with myself… even when it’s difficult.

Grace · Healing · Hope · life happens... · The Journey

Abide With Me…

Thoughts and Reflections on Life1 Comment

Some days I’m footloose and fancy free!  I glide through the days without a worry or a care.  Everything seems right with the world.

Some days I wake with a heavy heart.  Full of worry.  Full of fear.  Wondering what is next.  Anxious.

I’ve learned that no matter the state of my heart, I need to begin my day in the presence of my Father… first with a heart of thanksgiving, then giving Him all that worries me.

This morning I awoke with a heavy heart… and my cat vomiting outside my bedroom door!  I’ve learned not to jump up and rush to her for that only propels her to other parts of the house as she continues up be sick.  I stood in the doorway and prayed. I prayed for her and for me.  I could feel the heaviness on my heart.

After cleaning up the mess, I felt the need to go for a walk.  The sun was shining and the birds were singing.  I gathered my needed items – walking shoes, hoodie, phone, ear buds.  I programmed both of my fitness apps and away I went.

Each step was giving one more worry up to God.  Each step was asking him to reveal His presence to me.  Each step.

Matt Maher was my music of choice this morning.

Abide with me.  Abide with me.  Don’t let me fall and don’t let go.  
Walk with me and never leave. Ever close, God abide with me.  

He went on to sing about Gesthemane before the cross and the nails.  Feeling overwhelmed and alone to pray, God met Him in his suffering and bore his shame.

So by this point I’m walking and weeping.   The song continues. God’s love is a love that will never let us go.  A love that will never let me go.  A love that will never let you go.  Then the final line of the song plays…

… eternity.  Weep no more.  Sing for joy.  Abide with me.

Okay God.  I’m listening.

My morning walk was at the high school track.  I have a little routine I follow and I am not distracted by houses, yards, dogs, cars, etc.  The track is in full sun and it is warm!

Each time I rounded the north corner there in front of me was my long slender shadow (if only it was that long and slender in real life!!!). I was never able to see my shadow behind me.  The second time I rounded the corner the message was pretty clear for me.

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.                          – Philipians 3:13-14  (NIV)

I MUST keep my eyes forward and NOT dwell on what has already happened or not happened. My time here has a purpose.  Some days that is very clear to me.  Other days it is clouded and unclear… and hard.

This spring I’m learning that I’m not alone.  We all have a cross to carry and things that weigh heavy on us.  We also work hard to put our best foot forward and appear to have it all together.  Then I’m reminded that Jesus took people alongside him into the Garden of Gesthemane.  Yes, he spent time with his Father alone but he also had trusted friends along to share his pain.  This morning I went into the garden alone and God met me.  I asked Him to reveal Himself to me and He did.  For that I am grateful and thankful.

How vulnerable are we to let that trusted few into our lives to share in our journey?  How willing are we to keep our eyes forward and on the prize… eternity?  Are thanksgiving and praise the first thing out of our mouth in the morning… even when we awake heavy-hearted?  I’m asking myself this (as Anne Voskamp says… #preachingthegospeltomyself)…but also challenging you.

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