Seasons are changing.
Maybe it’s just me, but once those July 4th finale of fireworks burst thru the air and the remaining sparklers illuminate its own show from our children’s hands, do you slightly sense the season’s changing of the guard.
While the hot days of summer remain as house guests thru August, fall is sneaking up the back steps though most are unaware, preparing to welcome itself to the neighborhood.
Principals everywhere are ringing the school bell for students to begin filling their backpacks full of paper, pencils and crayons, while bells of another kind are ringing down the Christmas isles of my favorite craft store; all in the summer month of July.
Ready or not, the season’s here; the changing of the guard for weather, time and calendar events.
In life, we’re also facing seasons unique to our address.
The weaving of seasons from one into the other, with winter, spring, summer or fall choreographing the dance of personal seasons we’re about to enter, experience, or exit, then weave and dance into another season before us.
While we’d all like to predict a forecast of blue skies and sunny days, the weather might report an overcast of clouds or showers for a season.
Regardless of the season, we’re encouraged to take our seat, stay awhile, and welcome the purpose and meaning for the season we’re in.
On first impression when entering our doors, is a wooden sign with hooks for coats, sweaters or even purses for guests to hang their belongings and receive a heartfelt welcome into our home.
The same is true for entering a new season where we are encouraged to cast and hang our cares on Jesus, a place to feel safe, a place to call home, where the couch is comfy and ambiance speaks welcome.
The front door is a traffic jam of little boys and little girls taking off their shoes and placing them beneath the welcome sign of hanging cares and coats, where side by side their crocs, flips, sandals and gym shoes for little feet remain until they leave; a reminder that seasons are meant to be shared with others.
For twelve anguishing months beginning two years ago, our family experienced an unexpected and overwhelming winter season of ten, tearful good-byes.
At morning’s dawn, the waters slept and rested peacefully near the shores of our family’s heart.
Then, without notice or alarm, a family reaches once again for life vests as the waters wake and rise in swells and attempts to drown our hearts upon receiving another call.
We gasped and couldn’t catch our breath for long periods of time during this winter season of so many good-byes.
But God was good to us, near to us, sensing His presence, never leaving our side for a moment.
The summer season thankfully returned as promised and wafted in the air a fragrance of peace and joy and remained a bit longer than the calendar noted its departure, hovering over as a healing balm for our family.
Running along the shores of our hearts this refreshing summer season were little feet and laughter of our ten grandchildren, who somehow without us looking, outgrew the shoes of our memory.
We grandparents celebrate the many seasons we’ve shared with these ten beautiful heirs of our legacy.
Their growing continues into the seasons and choreographed dances of their individual lives.
When fishing began and there were only six of them.
So many years ago…
Our ten grand-babies today.
The seasons are changing guard once again, handing off the summer baton to the season of fall.
It’s time to pack up the sand toys and sandals these children will sadly outgrow and walk into a new season of their own before summer next year.
Seasons are changing.
While we’d all like to predict a forecast of blue skies and sunny days, the weather might report an overcast of clouds or showers for a season.
Regardless of the season, we’re encouraged to take our seat, stay awhile, and welcome the purpose and meaning for the season we’re in.
Apples of Gold Encouragement 