What is your favorite season? Winter? Spring? Summer? Fall? I know here in Texas we pretty much have a LONG HOT summer- a month or 3 of pretty cold (to Texans) winters and maybe a month each of spring and fall. It’s crazy, but it’s Texas! Sometimes we can get all 4 seasons in a day - really! We can! The fact is - we do have seasons - they change and you really cannot predict anything except the summer gets HOT!
As people, we have seasons too. As much as we would like to predict them, we can’t! Different ages, places where we live, life situations, jobs, etc… all give us our seasons and people in our lives. Not many people can say they stay in touch consistently with their bffs from their childhood or high school. Our “soccer mom besties” (for me it was volleyball and baseball moms) change because our kids switch teams or finish playing those sports! Our work besties change because people switch jobs, move, quit or retire! Luckily, social media has helped people stay in touch and at least we can wish ”Happy Birthdays”(because facebook reminds us) to people that were once a huge part of our lives. That’s a good thing. But what about when our seasons change? How do we deal with it?
Honestly, I have been known to be bitter when all of the sudden life changes and people stop communicating with me. I am a people person and I NEED MY PEOPLE! I wonder what have I done? Did I do something wrong? Why don’t we communicate anymore? I get sad - then mad! Or I used to anyway. With the passage of time, my bitterness and sadness has changed to appreciation. I look back at situations and think how thankful I am to have had those people in my world and the great memories I share with them. As much as I want to stay as close and continue making wonderful memories with those people, I have to accept that our season together is over and it’s ok. I think we get angry and bitter because life is just fine and comfortable and we don't know how to do life differently or we are not really sure what our next season looks like and we are scared.
But honestly, this is how we grow! You see, just around the corner is a new season… there are new people and relationships… there are NEW memories to be made! Sometimes WE are the ones who have to make a move and do something uncomfortable. It is scary - SO SCARY, but it is exciting too! So instead of being mad, negative and bitter - be ready! Try something different! Hang out with someone new! Doors are opening every day in our lives. Don’t get stuck in the past - be ready for what new adventures and new people bring to you. This is YOUR time - YOUR new season! Greet it with open arms and jump in!
I have no clue who wrote the following poem. It wasn’t me, but I’ve used it lots. I read it at the funeral of a dear friend 25 years ago and I will never forget it. Now, because of life, when people in my world leave for whatever reason, I silently (and now many times I’ve written a quick note) thank them for walking a mile with me on my journey. I want them to know, no matter what the circumstance was, that they made a difference in my life.
People come into ours lives
and walk with us a mile,
But then because of circumstance
they only stay a while.
They serve the need within the days
that quickly passes by.
And then are gone - beyond our reach,
we often wonder why?
Only God knows why they’ve come
and why we’ve shared a smile.
Why people come into our lives
and walk with us a mile.
Think about YOUR JOURNEY and YOUR PEOPLE that have been in your life. Have you thanked them? Even if the outcome of the relationship wasn’t what you thought it would be, look back at the GREAT parts of it and who you are because of it! I truly believe people are sent into our lives for reasons we can’t even see. Take some time to reflect and be thankful for your different seasons. However, don’t keep the door locked. Get ready for some new amazing chapters in your journey - IT’S GOING TO BE WONDERFUL!