Seasons Come and Go

I always feel a bit anxious when my children are about to enter into a new stage of life. I begin to feel nervous about the future and the whole “letting go” part. I start to reminisce on the joy of the present stage and dread the arrival of the next--- until God intervenes and brings unspeakable joy.

This recently happened between my youngest and I. My youngest, my baby, is headed off to Kindergarten in a few short months. To be honest, I have wanted to keep her little.  I have so enjoyed her Pre-K years that the thought of leaving them behind leaves me teary eyed and sad.

I felt this way with my first two children as well, and until recently forgot what a beautiful life lesson I learned about letting go and moving on to the next season of life.

When God moves our children and ourselves from one season to the next, there is always something just as beautiful about the next season that we would miss if we stayed in our present state.

Let me explain. I have adored having my baby at home. I have enjoyed the toddler and pre-k years. And then recently, like someone flipping a switch, she has started to make connections. All the things we have been teaching her are starting to come together and bring delight and joy to her heart and ours. This would not happen and we would not experience this joy if the seasons never changed. 

For example, she is learning to read. All the letter sounds, and vowel sounds, are beginning to make connections and she is ECSTATIC. To watch her read a word and figure out what it spells gives her the biggest smile. She loves it! And I do too!

And then spiritually speaking, we have taught her about the bible, and Jesus, and God’s word since she was born. I have whispered Jesus loves you more times than I can count into her ear. I have prayed and spoken scripture into her life since she was born. But all of a sudden, the connections are coming together in the most beautiful and precious moments.

She recently asked if God could hear and see everything. I said yes He can. She paused and then said out loud, “God? {brief pause} Hello?” And then looked at me and said, “He didn’t answer?” I explained about prayer and how God doesn’t always speak verbally out loud like Mommy or Daddy, but if you say something to him with a heart of prayer and listen carefully inside your heart he will speak to you.   She thought for a minute, and then very seriously, looked to the side and said, “God, I love you.”  She was very still and silent for a moment, looking down with deep concentration, and then she raised her face with excitement and deep joy and said, “MOMMA! I heard him! He said He loves me too!!!”

These tender moments remind me of the joy of letting our children grow. I am reminded of the saying, “Let Go, and Let God”. It can be tough at times on a Mothers heart to let go, but God always comes through for me too. He NEVER changes. He gives me sweet moments that remind me I truly would never want to hold my kids back. I would never want to keep them from moving on to the next season. Because with the change of seasons comes new life and fresh fruit.

Thank you Lord for being so good to us. Thank you for helping us through each season of life. Thank you for the outpouring of your Spirit and love. Thank you for redeeming us and giving us new life through the cross.  You are my greatest source of joy and I love you.