A Time for Every Season



I have been pondering the seasons of my life a lot lately - especially since becoming a first time grandmother. I believe we can learn from the seasons that we have already walked through...

The Season of Childhood


It seems in the beginning of our lives, time goes by very slowly.  Small children are often heard saying just five minutes into a long road trip, "Are we there yet?!?!"  As a small child I can remember excitedly waiting for something I was looking forward to and would think to myself, "Why is time going so slow! It seems like forever until the day will be here!"  Or when the school year dragged on and on before summer vacation was finally here.  I remember watching A Charlie Brown Christmas when I was 6 years old and, I confess, I didn't like the part where Linus explained the true meaning of Christmas because it seemed like it lasted an hour long!  [Coincidentally, when my husband was a little boy, Linus's speech was his favorite part, and he was unchurched at the time!  My husband currently shares that story as part of his testimony.  A blog post for another time.  :-) ]

Maybe it is because children don't have the ability to tell time or understand calendars that causes their slow perception of time...

The Season of 20-Something

Entering into adulthood, time seems to normalize; moving along at just the right pace - no longer wishing away childhood to be grownups who can do whatever they want whenever they want.  Instead, the reality of adulthood has settled in, which can be difficult at times, but nevertheless, most young adults and 20 somethings are happy at the prospect of their whole lives ahead of them with endless possibilities.

The Season of Childrearing


During our childrearing years, many of us can wish the time away.  Those newborn months can be very difficult - emotionally and physically taxing.  A young mom may find herself saying, "I can't wait until my baby isn't fussy all the time or until she can sleep through the night."  During the toddler years, especially with strong-willed, very active children, a mom might wish for the time when she can sit and relax and not have to be on her toes constantly chasing after the safety of her child.  I'm sure you can think of many other examples of perfectly normal responses of moms wishing the time away throughout all stages of their children's growing up years.

When our children approach mid to late teens, we then want time to stop.  We are realizing before too long our children will be off to college or leaving to start a life of their own or to get married.   We start asking ourselves, where did the time go??

The Season of the Empty Nest


And then the empty nest comes when we want to go back in time.  It is then that the regrets come... We regret not playing with our children when they asked us to, instead choosing to do housework. We regret having wished away the difficult times of childhood realizing now the preciousness of every moment.

The Season of Being Grandparents


As grandparents, we tend to savor time...

For me, becoming a grandparent has been such a surreal and profound experience. I know I loved my children just as much, but the love I feel for my precious granddaughter feels so powerful.  Recently, I walked my two month old Lexi around the block in the stroller; the very block I used to walk her momma around 24 years ago.  With each step I took, I allowed myself to be in the moment, looking around at the trees that are so much taller and thicker then they once were when my daughter was a baby.  I can hear echoes of conversations with my neighbor as we pushed our babies around the block together.   I thanked God for the wonderful season of motherhood I had when my children were young, for the blessing of a daughter who is such a good momma to her own daughter, and the precious blessing of a granddaughter for my husband and I to enjoy.  I am truly savoring and cherishing every moment of this season.

The Season of the Golden Years


Although I can't speak from experience as I have not reached that season of life yet, I have talked to those who are in their 80s and older who have a peace about time.  They are now satisfied with their lives as they lived them.  [Wisdom and age does that to a person...], and are ready to spend eternity with their Lord and Savior - looking forward to Everlasting time.

Every season of life brings its own failures and triumphs, sorrows and joys, trials and peace.

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which 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 get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, 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 of war, and a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

No matter how you view time through the seasons of life, "do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. " 2 Peter 3:8

Take comfort, "all things past, present and future are ever before Him."  Matthew Henry Commentary

For it is God's timeline that is perfect for His children...

Everything about His chosen ones and their lives was on His mind before He "created the Heavens and the Earth."  Genesis 1:1.

 Before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy 
and without fault in His eyes.  
Ephesians 1:4  

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  
Psalm 139:16

The Lord made a way for us...

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son...  
Galations 4:4

The Lord created us in Christ Jesus, to live during a specific point in time...

He marked out their appointed times in history (Acts 17:26)

The Lord chose the hour we would believe...

For He says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you."  Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.  
2 Corinthians 6:2

Besides, you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep.  For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.  
Romans 13:11

The Lord has a purpose for our lives...

For we are God's handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works, 
which God prepared in advance for us to do. 
 Ephesians 2:10

Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  
Ephesians 5:16

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. 
Psalm 90:12

The Lord has chosen the appointed time for that Glorious Day...

As a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in Heaven and things on Earth.  Ephesians 1:10

Our Heavenly Father has a purpose for every season of life that we go through; birth, childhood, adulthood, empty-nest, grandparenthood, and the golden years...  Jesus understands our thoughts and feelings through each season of life, beckoning us to come to Him with our struggles, disappointments, trials, triumphs, joys and praises; for He has loved us with an Everlasting love.  Jeremiah 31:3

Whatever season of life you are in right now, whether in the midst of sorrows or joys; failures or triumphs, trials or peace, you must not lose sight of God's perfect timeline so that you can say with the Psalmist...

But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, You are my God,.  My times are in Your hands. 
Psalm 31:14-15

For additional thoughts on God's purposes for the seasons of your life, please click on the following:




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Comments

  1. Karen, beautiful words and thoughts . . . I loved this: "Our Heavenly Father has a purpose for every season of life that we go through; birth, childhood, adulthood, empty-nest, grandparenthood, and the golden years... Jesus understands our thoughts and feelings through each season of life, beckoning us to come to Him with our struggles, disappointments, trials, triumphs, joys and praises; for He has loved us with an Everlasting love." Thank you for sharing . . . your words touched my heart.

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    1. Thank you Bekki. Praising God as He led me through this post. I had actually set out to write about something completely different. As I was praying and typing, I found myself writing about something completely different! I am still in awe as I read this post how Spirit-led it was. The Lord truly ministered to me.

      Thank you for your kind words which were such a blessing. 😊

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  2. Wonderful, edifying, encouraging words, Karen. The older we get, the more we realize the true value and necessity and importance of the seasons through which we have passed. Regret is a very hard thing to cope with, and we start to understand that we need to do our utmost to prevent regret before it happens. God help us to redeem the time...to make the most of every moment we are given on this pilgrimage. It is all over so fast. Nothing drove that truth home to me like watching both of my dear parents cross over to be with Jesus. Thank you for sharing your heart here...you are such a blessing! ;)

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    1. Awe. Thank you so much Cheryl! Your words of encouragement have blessed me!

      Indeed, it is so important to redeem the precious time that the Lord has given us.

      Life does go by so fast. I have heard it said that our time here on earth will seem like a blink of an eye compared to eternity.

      Thank you so much for visiting. :-)

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  3. This really spoke to me. I'm a mom and I'm in that place where I just want my daughter to sleep through the night. :-) It's hard to savor the hours I've spent awake nursing her in the middle of the night, but I know a time will come when I will miss it.
    I've been trying to live in the moment more. I've taken time recently to just sit on the floor and watch her as she plays. She gets so fascinated with simple things. It's good to fully be in those moments.
    Thanks for the reminder that God's timeline is perfect.

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    1. Awe. It sounds like you are enjoying your precious little one.

      I think at any age we can all be guilty of wishing not so fun times away. You are certainly right that we should be fully in all the moments the Lord blesses us with.

      Thanks for visiting! :-)

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  4. I always have loved that Ecclesiastes verse. There really is a time for everything. I am 36 and fairly content with my life, yet I find myself wishing away time or wishing for a time to come. I need to remember to be in the moment and savor it...like you are as a grandmother. Thanks for this reminder today. Blessed to be your neighbor at Tell His Story.

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    1. Tara, I can still wish time away as well. Then I stop and think, wait a minute, at 55 I need to be wanting time to slow down! lol.

      I think it is human nature to be looking to the next moment, the next event, the next day, but you are right, we need to be IN the moment and to savor all our days.

      Thanks for visiting!

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  5. This is perfect. I'm sitting here reading this with one child across the continent and another setting off to work at camp leaving only one at home. I'm so thankful for the time I've had with my kids and the reminders to live in the moment and savor it can't come often enough!

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    1. Carol, It seems as I get older, I savor more moments than I did when I was younger, but I too still need those reminders to savor even at this stage of my life...

      The Lord certainly does bless us with many moments to savor. :-)

      Thanks for stopping by!

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  6. I was just thinking about this kind of thing yesterday as I stood at a graveside service and listened to all the words others said about their dear loved one. Our times are in His hands and He holds it all together! Thanks for the reminder and these encouraging words! (Your neighbor at #livefreeThursday

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    1. Rachel, I appreciate you stopping by. Praising God for His encouragement. :-)

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  7. Very, very true, Karen-- I think I have given a couple of keynote addresses on this. Although I am definitely guilty of wishing time away or being impatient (parenting this strong-will 2 year old girl of mine is a blessing-- but sometimes wearisome!)

    It is all about seeking God and trusting him with our time. I remember once during a semi-long weekend with my husband when he was gone a lot with the army, I complained and said "The weekend went too fast!" And he responded with "It went just as fast as God wanted it to."

    At the time, I was a little ticked. But now, I think he had a good point ;-)

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    1. Sharita, Those are very profound words you shared from your husband.

      It really is fascinating our perception of time. I know for me, when times "goes by too fast" it usually means I was having such a good time I didn't want to see it end. Your husband's words are wise because a "too fast weekend" must mean lots of blessings from the Lord. :-)

      Thanks for visiting!

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  8. I so agree with you! Having grandchildren is such an overwhelming kind of love. And while time seems to zoom by faster with each year older I get, I do savor life more than ever before.

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    1. Thank you so much for sharing Elizabeth.

      I appreciate your stopping by!

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  9. Karen this is a beautiful post and I so agree with you. There are seasons when we want time to speed by and then when we want it to slow down. I am in a slow down season. Our oldest daughter is married with children of her own but I am blessed to still have a 10 and 7 year old at home. I so want time to slow down so that I can spend more of it with them before they are grown up. Thank you so much for sharing this post with us at Good Morning Mondays. Blessings to you and your family. xxx

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    1. Terri, thank you for your kind words!

      And thank you so much for sharing your heart on the matter. :-)

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  10. Such great truth and beauty here. Time passes by so quickly, more so with each passing year, and I long for the days when time shall be no more and we shall savor Him and our loved ones in Christ for all eternity! Linked up with you at Give Me Grace -- hope you'll stop by Saved by Grace for a visit!
    God bless,
    Laurie
    http://savedbygracebiblestudy.blogspot.com/

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    1. Laurie, Thank you for your kind words.

      Indeed! Eye has not seen and ear has not heard what God has prepared for those who love Him.

      Thank you for visiting!

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  11. A very timely post. I just spent the weekend with my son, daughter in law and our two grandkids. My mom was there too...88 years young. We all talked about time. We are in the process of selling our big house and down sizing. So glad that where I will spend eternity is not a question for me.so grateful for God's faithfulness to all generations....

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    1. Anita, Thank you so much for sharing your story. :-)

      Indeed! God is faithful to all generations!

      Thanks for visiting!

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  12. A good and TIMEly reminder :D oh how I love puns.

    On a more serious note, how wonderful it is that we can trust God for our times are in His hands.

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    1. Your comment made me smile. :-)

      The Lord certainly has left a great cloud of witnesses in His Word showcasing His faithfulness, and continues to show His faithfulness to us.

      Thanks for visiting!

      Delete

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