A Few Helpful Thoughts about Hard Seasons

Over time, a medium-sized wild cherry tree near our front door started leaning toward the street, a little bit more every year.

Rather than wake up some morning to find the tree had fallen across the road and into our neighbor’s kitchen, we had it removed last year. When the tree guy was cutting up the trunk, I asked him if he could slice off some “cookies” that I could use as stepping stones.

I have yet to make a path, but Randy has used the wood to carve a few things on his CNC machine, including a garden plaque that now graces the front flowerbed.

When he carved the sign last spring, it was fresh and bright. A few months later, the weathering process had already begun; now, the words remain clear but the wood has grayed completely.

I still love the little sign, maybe more now than before. There’s no doubt, though—it’s been affected by the weather. And it didn’t take long either—in fact, it aged much more rapidly than I expected.

We’re more resilient than raw wood, but seasons still affect us, don’t they? This year, especially, we can see it plainly in the mirror, on the scale, in our relationships, in our hearts.

Nerves are shorter, patience frayed, hearts anxious.

Then we step out the front door and see the brilliant leaves on our neighbor’s maple tree. We set out on a jog just before sunrise and feel the chill in the air. We turn our HVAC systems from cool to heat and look forward to ordering our favorite hot seasonal drink from our local coffee shop.

Fall is here; winter is coming. For those of us who thrive in colder weather, that’s a hopeful, energizing thought. It doesn’t erase the last eight months, but it does give us something to look forward to, I think.

What will the world—and each of us individually—be like when the current season of unrest and uncertainty passes? Anyone can guess; only God knows.

As we wait to find out, here are a few observations about seasons that might provide some perspective.

• Seasons come and seasons go. It’s the way of nature, the way of life.

• Seasons cannot be rushed. Some arrive sooner than expected; others stay long enough to completely wear out their welcome. Either way, their duration is largely out of our control.

• What one person loves about a particular season often is the very thing that another person can’t wait to be done with.

• The effects of a hard or dry season are sometimes temporary and sometimes permanent.

• The effects of seasons of refreshing often don’t seem to last as long as the effects of dry seasons.

• Seasons don’t always have happy endings. Some end in grief and loss. Such is the nature of life, especially as we get older.

• Our unchanging God designed the changing seasons, and He is sovereign over them.

As fall makes its annual shift toward winter, that last bit of truth alone gives us ample reason to hold our expectations and plans loosely, to look for the small joys, to give thanks every day.

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with Purposeful Faith, #TellHisStory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, #HeartEncouragement, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.