‘Tis the season. It’s
common to hear this phrase this time of year.
‘Tis the season for celebrating Christ’s birth. ‘Tis the season for shopping. ‘Tis the season for gift giving. ‘Tis the
season for family gatherings. ‘Tis the
season for eating too much so ‘tis the season for elastic waist pants.
These past few days though, I’ve been thinking of other times
I’ve used this phrase. When our children
were young, I remember saying ‘tis the season for sleepless nights…toys
everywhere…and absolutely no privacy. As
they grew, the season changed to school projects…first dates…college
selections. Then the season changed to an
empty nest…weddings…and returned privacy.
But now, in my 50’s, ‘tis the season for helping with
grandchildren…helping our parents…losing some of our privacy again.
As I look back on my life up to today, I realize that there have
been seasons of my life when I just existed.
I just endured the day-to-day grind of living…waiting for the next
season of life to begin. Instead of
embracing where God had placed me and being open and available to learn
whatever He had to teach me during those days…I squirmed and gritted my teeth
while I begged Him to hurry the days along.
As a result, the memories aren’t all filled with times of growth and
precious moments with my God.
I think it is important to remember that wherever we find
ourselves today, ‘tis the season. In
other words, whatever stage of life we are in, it is only for a relatively short
span of our life. Given time…our
circumstances usually change and those past seasons just become memories. But the kind of memories we have often depend
on the attitude we displayed during our season.
If we complained and grumbled, then our memories will probably not be
pleasant and might be filled with regrets.
But if we chose to have joy…wherever God placed us…our memories will
continue to give us more joy and contentment.
I don’t know what season you are finding yourself today. You may be single and wondering if God will
ever bring you a soul mate. You may be
married and wondering if God will ever bless you with children. You may have children, but wonder if you will
ever make it through the toddler stage.
Your children may be teenagers and you are wondering if you will survive
the constant hormone changes. You may
have just entered the empty nest season and you wonder how you will find joy in
such a quiet home. Or, you may be in my
season, where grandchildren often fill your home with noise and laughter…and at
the same time…you are helping to care for your elderly parents who need your
“parenting” touch.
All seasons have challenges.
All seasons have pain. All
seasons have joy. All seasons can be
lived for God’s glory. But how we look
back on that season will depend on our attitude while we are in that
timeframe.
We are promised that God WILL see us through each day, each
week, each month, each year. He doesn’t
promise that each day will end exactly the way WE had planned…but if we submit to
Him, He promises that each season will end according to HIS perfect plan. That should give us hope…give us peace…give us
the strength needed for the next 24 hours.
Never forget that ‘Tis The Season for Him to work in a mighty way
wherever He has placed you today.
“For just as the heavens are higher than the
earth,
so
my ways are higher than your ways
and
my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:9
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