“Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” – Psalm 30:5b
My daughter just turned two in February. As she continues to grow and learn new things, I’ve been reflecting on the last three years of pregnancy, infancy, and now, toddlerhood. Each season is so special and unique with all its ups and downs, sometimes the season is fantastic and you don’t want to let it go, and others, you’re more willing to part with — particularly those sleepless nights.
But the one thing that is a constant in life is that each season we find ourselves in is just that, a season. Seasons come and go. Some are great and we wish we could stay there indefinitely, and others are more challenging. With each season we have an opportunity to learn and grow, similar to our little children.
Currently, my daughter is enjoying the discovery of her independence. She loves to brush her teeth, comb her hair and even dress herself, all on her own. But when she comes upon a challenge, she often gets frustrated and will get angry or cry. When these moments of frustration occur, we are teaching her to ask for help, providing an opportunity to teach her how to work through each issue. This way, she learns how to overcome her challenge, ask for help and achieve the outcome she is looking for. Putting this together lets her feel safe and allows her to understand that asking for help is a necessary and healthy part of life.
“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” – Coretta Scott King
SPIRITUAL THOUGHT
Our grown-up challenges many times appear more momentous than the challenges of a two-year-old, however, this concept still rings true. When we are overwhelmed by a new and challenging season of life, we, like our children, have the opportunity to ask for help. As adults, sometimes we may feel like we are required to have all the answers or that we must be strong enough to deal with the challenges that come our way, but that’s simply not true. God gave us His Holy Spirit, family and community so that we have an abundance of support to bolster us during the cold winters of our lives. We were meant for this spiritual and physical community so that we can encourage each other through every season, supporting in the difficult times and celebrating in the better times.
MY PRAYER
Dear God, thank You for the seasons You put in my life. Please give me the courage to ask for help when I need it. Amen.
Written by Michelle Gordon
