Seasons Blending

I received a couple of pictures in a text earlier in the week. Beautiful colors of yellow, orange and a sprinkle of red popped from the screen. They were in the car, dad driving, and mom snapping pictures with her iPhone and sharing them with me by text.

Knowing they were having an adventure made me smile big!

Because fall colors are at their peak in the mountains of the southeastern US, they decided to take a drive and experience the beauty of God’s amazing, ever changing creation. The seasons are changing, my parents will say faster now, and soon winter will settle for awhile.

Some people find it helpful to look at our individual life cycles as seasons, and use the familiar weather seasons as descriptors. Recently, someone asked my dear man which season he thinks we’re currently living through – winter, spring, summer or fall?

I listened to the answer he gave this kind friend, and first of all, felt grateful that men are asking each other this depth of question. And then I listened for the words of which I’ve become rather fond.

“We’re celebrating.

This is a gratitude season for us.”

Now that we live in the desert, and summer seems to demand the most perseverance out of it’s residents, I would say that we are gradually blending into fall. There’s a coolness and refreshment in the morning air that causes us to breathe deep with a recognition that we’ve more than survived the trials of a fiery season.

And yet, fall in the desert holds enough heat in the afternoon to remind us of the long season we’ve recently endured. Then again, fall for us, desert dwellers, is a time of growth and harvest. The oranges and grapefruits on our trees are growing and beginning to ripen. Flowers are blooming, and I’ve noticed a few butterflies.

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We more than survived this most recent challenging season and all because we didn’t endure it alone. Our Good Shepherd led us, and at times carried us. He many times cradled us and sang lullabies through the night. He poured oil over our broken hearts and grieved with us over all that’s been lost. Our Good Shepherd fed us and protected us from the evil one through the darkest nights of the soul.

Jesus, Good Shepherd, taught us everything about His character that we wouldn’t know except that He, in all His goodness, led us all the way through this past season, and into the sunshine of a new season. Grateful, and celebrating, are we!

And how exactly did He do that?

We will look at that next time.

Eyes on Jesus and Shine,

Lisa

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Linking up this week with friends: