Three Reasons to be Grateful in All Seasons of Life
Sparks of gratitude often come unexpectedly, even when you are on the lookout for them! As revealed by a random comment that caught me off guard a couple of weeks ago, at our church’s trunk or treat event for Halloween.
Since my sweet Pastor husband and I recently returned from our trip to Washington DC and Philadelphia, we decided to dress as tourists. We wore tops purchased as souvenirs from previous trips, plus the backpacks, camera, and camera bag we had worn each day of our exploration. I printed out 8×10 pictures of our trip and mounted them on black paper as if they were negatives. Additionally, we filled the back of our Subaru with suitcases, and we were ready for trick or treaters.
We got the expected I-could’ve-done-that type of comments along with exclamations about our photos. One sweet young friend looked longing at our pictures and expressed her desire to someday go back east. I replied, “Not to discourage you, but Tim didn’t get to go till he was 60!” She smiled and responded she didn’t find that discouraging at all.
Seasons of Life
As I thought about her comment, I recognized her awareness of different seasons in life. For example, she is in the middle of the raising-small-children season. However, I’m in the empty-nest season with grown, independent children. Both of us have different opportunities and different adventures to experience.
Do you find yourself wanting do what someone else gets to do? Or wishing you had what someone else received? It’s easy for us to focus on what we don’t have and perceive someone else’s life is better. Consequently, we become envious of another’s spouse, children, finances, health, ability to travel, size and/or appearance of their home, job options and more.
Seasons Change
I’m now old enough to look back at different seasons and realize that what I once hoped I would be able to do and accomplish, I can now do. I’ve moved into a different period with different boundaries. Admittedly, I miss many of the experiences of previous phases, such as no more tucking my children into bed. Moreover, no more school concerts and sporting events, plus no more tickle fights filled with squeals of laughter.
When it comes to nature, we think of seasons happening annually. Yet, when it comes to life, we see seasons as one-time events spanning years. Sadly, as we get older, we only define our lives with the images of fall and winter. We see life as slowing down and becoming less productive, somehow missing the beauty and benefit of the duration. What if there are more seasons to life than the four we use to define the annual changes in weather?
The reality is we have seasons not only in our family life, but in our jobs, in our health, and in our spiritual growth. We flow through times of growth and provision, and we survive times of struggle and scarcity. Simply put, it’s the cycle of life.
Three Reasons to Be Grateful in Any Season
In Ecclesiastes, Solomon tells us “There is a time for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) He identifies periods of birth and death, planting and uprooting, tearing down and building, weeping and laughing, as well as keeping and throwing away. Solomon reminds us we will mourn, dance, be silent, speak up, love, hate, endure war, and experience peace. Life is filled with more than just four seasons and each interval provides reasons to be thankful.
Grateful for God
To begin with, we can always be thankful for who God is. Throughout each season of life, God is constant, and He is constantly the same (Hebrews 13:8). God will accomplish His purposes (Isaiah 46:10). He sits enthroned over all that takes place (Psalm 29:10). The Lord is the One who changes times and creates seasons (Psalm 74:17, Daniel 2:21). In addition, God loves us, remains with us, and guides us through each and every chain of events we experience (Lamentations 3:22, 1 John 4:16, Matthew 1:23, 1 Corinthians 3:16, Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 119:105).
Grateful for Purpose
Second, we can express gratitude because each season has a function. When you look at the progression of spring, summer, fall and winter, you see how the earth first shelters and grows a harvest. Next nature produces a harvest, and then replenishes itself for another year of growth and productivity. Our lives are not different.
In Galatians 6:9-10, Paul writes, “So let’s not get tired of doing good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone –especially to those in the family of faith.” (CSB) Certainly, we can be assured a harvest of blessing will come.
God is Sovereign of our Harvest
I’m sure each of us has a picture-perfect idea of what we’d love our harvest to be. If you are like me, you can manage almost any circumstance if you know the positive outcome it will produce. Despite this, we won’t know why we endure certain stretches of time until we see Jesus face to face.
Consider what Luke says in Acts 14:16-17. “In the past [God] permitted all the nations to go their own ways, but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.” (NLT)
God is very aware that good crops require rain. In our spiritual lives, God always knows what we need to challenge and provide for our growth. Often, we experience fruit because of circumstances and seasons we wouldn’t choose. Remember: God will accomplish His purposes; He is sovereign over all things.
Grateful for Gifts of Pleasure
Last, God gives pleasure in each season. In Acts 14, we already learned that God gives evidence of himself and his goodness. In Ecclesiastes 3, Solomon tells us that satisfaction in our work, or our efforts, is a gift from God (verse 13). Furthermore, the Psalmist Asaph declares God is our portion, and His presence is our good (Psalm 73:26-28).
Although, we have our ideal of what pleasure we want to experience, we must choose to trust what God provides. Once again, I feel compelled to emphasize God will accomplish His purposes, and His purposes are for our best benefit. Romans 8:18 says, “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.” (NLT)
Good in Each Season
I don’t know what season of life you are currently living. If you are living through a phase filled with blooms and a beautiful harvest, I celebrate with you. If your cycle feels cold, harsh, and lacking vibrancy, I challenge you to take another look, with the Holy Spirit as your guide, at what surrounds you.
There is good in whatever season you are experiencing. God remains God, He himself is good, He is with you, and He is for you. Your season has a function, a purpose only God can bring about; the harvest will come. And God has some gift of pleasure for you amid the season you are living. That’s who our God is.
May a spark of gratitude burst into flame in your heart for the season you are living.
Spark Photo by Morgan Sessions on Unsplash
Oh how true it is that the seasons of life bring about a difference. Like you, I miss the past seasons with my young children, but again I love the season I am in. I was just reading this morning about the prophet to Israel that told the exiles the Word of the Lord, to live, grow, build homes, plant fields and live where you are planted, (totally my paraphrase) LOL Whatever season I am either in or coming up in my life, I want to be faithful to be thankful for all He provides and how He chooses to use me. I watched Robert’s parents live into their late 80s and they were so thankful for all God had provide them and they in turn continued to show their love for God by touching others, even in the late season of their lives. I see the same thing in my 93 year old mom who lives in an assisted living place. Her season of life has brought her to the end of seasons, but she is grateful for where she is. She continues to be used of the Lord to touch others there. May I learn and grow and live by the examples set before me by the Lord and our parents. I’m grateful for you Nancy! God bless your Thanksgiving with your family!!
What an amazing blessing and example Roberts’ parents are, as well as your mom! I also was blessed with a fabulous example of living well even as one grows older. I think you pointed ot a great thought: we continue to have influence throughout our days, and God can always use a willing servant! Thanks so much for sharing!
I, too, had a mom who actively sought ways to be a blessing to others, even when dementia set in and she had to move into a memory care center. Hebrews 13:5 is the verse that has helped me in this “slowing down” stage of life. KJV tells us not to be coveteous of what other people have, but be content because God will never leave us or forsake us. I think the meaning goes beyond money and things. We are to be content with our life in each season. I’m a work in progress.
Loretta, I love your statement “I’m a work in progress.” That is so true of all of us!! I love the visual I now have of your mom, even with evidences of dementia. It just reminds me we have so much to offer others, regardless of what we perceive we do or do not have. Encouragement is such a valuable gift!! Thanks for sharing.