As seasons come and go - 13 March 2017
Hennie Symington
“Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Luke 21:29
Through all the seasons of our lives, we wonder what God has in store for us. For most people life is punctuated by seasons of soul searching and defining our priorities, searching for meaning in life, making choices about our faith and our lifestyle.
As we grow older, the seasons change. You might experience an empty nest when your children leave home and start their own life journeys. It is also a season of looking inward and examining your life and your priorities. You start thinking about old age an all that entails. Loss of health, strength and mental decline, the loss of your partner or friends of your age is another season we have to cope with. At this time one becomes more and more aware that “our times are in God’s hand.”
However, we may become so obsessed with looking backwards to seasons in the past, wishing for our favourite season to return, that the present with all the possibilities it brings passes us by. Instead of letting go and forgetting what lies behind and pushing forward to what lies ahead, we remain lost in the past. The good news is that there are good things to experience in every season of our lives. Grasp these gifts with gratitude.
Prayer: Lord, as we get older we often look back in anger, or pain or wishing for the good times of long ago. Teach us that you are faithful and true and always have good gifts in store for us, no matter what age we are. Amen