Seasons of Life

As a kindergarten teacher one of the many things that we get to teach about is the seasons. We talk about them daily with the kids as we discuss the weather.  We talk about such things as what the weather is like in each season, what we would do, what we would wear, and how the weather for that season makes us feel. Even from the young age of five or six they can tell me that the sun shining makes them "happy" or that storms make them sad and scare them.  It's funny that as adults our feelings really don't change much. The sun makes us feel good.  Maybe it is because the warmth it brings or the beauty in a sunrise or set.  Whatever it is, I would take a day of sun over a day of rain or snow anyday. The gloomy weather brings me down, but I also know that it is needed for the earth.

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon writes about the seasons of life and that there is a time for everything...

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ESV)

Solomon writes about one extreme to another. There is no inbetween, but each has it's place.  Currently I am reading the book The God of Yes, by Jud Wilhite. In his book he talks about these seasons and that even though they are rough or bring us down we can still find the beauty in them and praise God. Much like snow, as much as it sucks, when it first falls there is beauty. The blanket that covers the earth while it is till pure and clean.  God wants us to find that beauty and say Yes to him, giving Him the praise He alone deserves. 

Currently, in my life I feel that I am going through one of those seasons that feels like a rainy day...the rainy day that never ends.  Many times I have been questioning why I am at where I am in my life. I don't understand and I probably never will. I just know that I question why I am teaching where I am. I don't know why I have to face the challenges there and sometimes dread work. I don't know why I struggle with image and food daily.  I don't get why I am 26 and single when I always dreamed of being married and having kids. I am stuck in the rainy season. 

Even though I seem to be stuck in this season, I should take these negatives and find a way to praise God daily. For example, yes my job is challenging, but at least I  have one.  One that is exactly what I wanted to do, teach kindergarten.  Yes, I am single and don't have kids, but I have learned a lot about myself. I have also been able to travel and see God's handiwork when I want.  I have snowboarded the great Rocky Mounains and sailed the blue Caribbean seas.  I've been able to do things married people and people with kids would never be able to do.  I need to find these positives in the storms of life and thank god for them. 

Finally, even though it might seem as if I am in the storm of life, when my summer comes I need to thank God daily and praise Him for those good days. When we have good days, it is so easy to just assume they will last forever. To take them for granted, when in the blink of an eye it could all change again.  I guess this is one of the mysteries of our great God.  He gives and takes away all according to His plan for our lives. He is the God of the universe and all things work together for his good. He knows what he is doing and no matter what season we are in He deserves all the glory and honor.