Seasons

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens”
Ecclesiastes 3:1

All I wanted this past Mother’s Day was an extra hour in bed. With no one bothering me. I shared this with my family the night before, impressing this desire upon my youngest by telling her she couldn’t talk to me until 8am.

My Sunday began at 6:41am when I woke up . . . and then not 15 minutes later the youngest was in the room asking for things. A series of events occurred and I got out of bed in a less-than-pleasant mood. I complained to God while I got ready: “Really? I can’t even get just an hour?” I allowed myself to sulk and feel disappointment.

But God.

He chose to nudge me in those moments of self-pity. I felt Him tell me in my soul, “This isn’t that season.”

Those words snapped me back into reality and I turned them over in my head. At 14, 11, and 7, my kids are becoming increasingly independent. The older two don’t need me in the morning. Well, my son still asks me to make him cereal but they are independent enough to give me the extra hour when I need it. Soon my youngest will be, too. And before I know it, I won’t have my kids at home with me and I will have all the time in the world to sleep in. To rest on the weekends. To read a book on the couch, uninterrupted, whenever I want. Right now, though? It’s my season to nurture and be present for my kids. To welcome the early morning requests. To play games or chauffeur them around. To spend weeknights and weekends cheering them on.

I realized this nugget from the Lord didn’t apply to just this one situation. So let me encourage you, even though it may feel difficult to not get what you want. Maybe it’s not your season. This doesn’t mean your desire will never happen, so don’t be discouraged. Look at it as an opportunity for hope. Reflect on the good things in your life. Challenge yourself to grow spiritually during this time.

I don’t know what your “want” is. I know it can be painful, especially if your want is something you see everyone else celebrating. But lean in. Tell God! He already knows, but it took me voicing my disappointment to Him to hear Him speak to my soul.

I ended up getting my hour. Not that day, but the next. Not when I wanted it, but in the evening when practices overlapped and I found myself without the neediest child at home. I’m so grateful for it, and I’m thankful for the lesson and reminder from the Lord. Cherish the good things in your season. Look with hope to the future when He might deliver you the “want” you so desire. And thank Him that there is a season for everything, for every activity under the heavens.

Blessings,

From God Not Her