Gratitude Day 261

Sat., Apr. 27, 2019

Ecclesiastes 3:1 – Everything on earth has its own time and its own season.

It’s April 27 and I still have ice skates on my front porch.

And pine boughs that would take about 3.5 seconds to burn they are so dry.

If you look closely, there is a tipped over church/birdhouse thing that I didn’t even take time to upright. It’s been so windy this week that well, the church/birdhouse felt more comfortable on its side.

Every time I go to the mailbox, I think, “Dianne, you really must get these winter decorations off the front porch.” And then another day goes by. And then a week. I’ve written “front porch” so many times on today’s to-do list that I think it automatically writes itself these days.

Yet, the ice skates and the dried-up pine boughs and the tipped over church/birdhouse live another day.

Snow is forecasted for tonight. Yep. Real snow. Like multiple inches. Maybe not enough for ice and ice skates but one more hint of what Christmas and the first snowfall of the winter could feel like.

Only the daffodils are blooming, the trees are budding out and lawnmowers have been humming for the first time of 2019 this week. Mother Nature just hasn’t decided exactly what season it is … yet.

The verse from Ecclesiasties 3:1 is well-known, whether you consider yourself a Christian or not. We use this saying in normal, every day life. “Everything has a season,” we say.

A season for school and education. A season for working.

A season for athletics and sports and a season for cheering from the sidelines.

A season for having fun and a season for being responsible.

A season for children and a season for empty-nesting.

A season for grandchildren and a season for sending them home.

A season for moving up the corporate ladder and a season for being OK with where you are.

A season for cleaning and getting rid of and a season for enjoying what you have.

A season for traveling and exploring and a season for sitting on the porch.

A season for ice skates and pine boughs and a season for fresh flowers and greenery.

A season for doing, doing, doing … and a season for being OK with less doing.

A season for being critical of ourselves and a season for accepting who you are, warts and all.

I kept thinking that I would remove the winter decorations and find a way to make the porch look pretty before I plant gorgeous summer flowers with no concern about them freezing at night. The season of Lent came and went. The season of Easter arrived … and still ice skates.

Maybe, it’s a season of being OK with where things are today. Being OK with not crossing everything off today’s to-do list. Or writing a more realistic one. Being OK with grace and peace and whatever I need to make it through today. Being OK with enjoying the most important things in life and letting the rest go.

What season are you in today? What might you just need to be OK with today?

For trying to see a little more grace in my life and being OK with today’s season, I am grateful.

Almighty God – there are so many seasons in our lives: seasons of the calendar; seasons of school and work; seasons of family and friends; seasons of activity and less activity; seasons of acceptance and seasons and grace. As we explore with you the current season of our lives, may you fill us with understanding and grace of today’s season. Amen.

Blessings –

Dianne

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