Faith Family of Five: Seasonal shifts

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Seasonal shifts

Over the course of the past few years I've wrote a thing or two about seasons, the changing of seasons, my favorite season, etc. We're coming upon the start of another one but you wouldn't know it if you were living in my homeland of MN. I'd love to say that the little bit of snow that remained was getting kinda dirty so that fresh 5-inch layer of white did some good to beautify things again....but I might get a few scowls. ;) And I probably shouldn't say that our backyard is producing some color popping up from beneath the dirty surface....but I will. Spring is a-coming!!

And what's the changing of seasons without a little look at the seasons we go through in life? Some are only for weeks at a time, such as switching over from courtside seats to baseline bleachers.

baseball time for our Carson!

Some seasons are for years as that pregnancy test continues to say 'negative' (in the case of some dear friends); as relational healings are longed for and finally achieved after a long season in the waiting room. Makes that seemingly endless MN winter not so long after all.

God takes us through seasons in our life, some shorter than others, in order to draw us closer to Him. I'm not sure about you, but sometimes whether it's the 100+ temps of summer or -30s of winter, that particular season is never over fast enough when in the midst of it. Same can be said of that season God needs us to go through in order to be a bit more thankful on the other side, a little more dependent on Him, and a little deeper rooted in our faith. Hindsight perspective.

(a few snippets of a women's retreat over-nighter--love these ladies!)

... :)

You don't want to know what happened next....

always time for giggles!!

much needed coffee...to make up for lack of sleep! ;)

the ladies working hard!

Seasons are inevitable to go through; what matters is how we get through them stronger on the other side, and hopefully not frozen or melted. ;) Studying the book of James has definitely brought some warmer weather to what seemed a not-so-mild season at times...I had a little shoveling to do. ;) As all of us James-Journeyers would say from week to week, we are so thankful for God who gives His grace, and gives it abundantly when we humbly ask and seek that wisdom from above. It's been a perfect study for this season of life. For all of us.

These three handsome gents, though sometimes the culprits of making a season a little bit tougher at moments, can usually somehow find a way to help us keep things in perspective. And I'm sure I would get nods in agreement when I say that I'm ready for a new season--a season of enjoying iced tea on the deck, for the sun-kissed cheeks of my littles, the warmth of the sun as fingernails are beneath the dirt, the taste of a hot dog that is only best at a stadium...another season of God's grace showering down on us as we are one season closer to eternity.