To everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. – Ecclesiastes 3;1-8. Christian Books – Donna Louis – To Everything There Is A Season.
Well, it has finally arrived. The summer season is officially here. Family barbecues almost weekly, crowded beaches, long lines at amusement parks for rides, sailboats, powerboats, boats of all types in the water, picnics, bonfires, going to a drive-in movie theatre, take a nap in a hammock, go to live outdoor concerts, fly a kite, go on vacation, etc.
Summer is a great season and an outdoor season, but all the seasons have their highs and lows. Summer season lows can bring sunburn, dehydration, mosquito and insect issues, etc. We all also have seasons in our lives where we encounter high and lows. Farmers know a lot about seasons. Christian Books – Donna Louis – To Everything There Is A Season. Check out my website
Spring – this season normally begins in the latter part of March and ends in the latter part of June. When spring comes, and the weather warms up, farmers begin to prepare the soil for planting. Spring is the season of new life and new growth. Once the ground is thawed out from the cold of the winter, farmers often plant their crops. In April and May, the fields get planted with the seeds of crops. These crops may be ready for harvest in only a month or not until many months later. This is an exciting time for the farmer. This same principle applies to us because we come alive and feel like we have been revived. However, just like the crops, there will be highs and lows. Some things will go well and be ready for harvest and some things may need more time. That doesn’t mean we give up on our dreams and pursuits we just must persevere. Christian Books – Donna Louis – To Everything There Is A Season.
Summer – summer occurs from the end of June till the middle of September. During the summer months, there are constantly things to do around the farm. There is always plenty of weeding in the garden to do, and there is never a shortage of cutting grass. We can learn a lot from ants and how they operate in the summer months. The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer. – Proverbs 30:25. Ants never quit. When they are on the trail for food, they don’t let any obstacle stand in their way. They just don’t stand there shaking their heads in disbelief. They don’t give up on their goal. They don’t start to feel sorry for themselves and decide that success isn’t for them. They confront their obstacles and walk around it, over it, though it or under it, until they achieve their desired outcome. They think winter all summer. In life, we should be using the exact same process. Christian Books – Donna Louis – To Everything There Is A Season.
Fall – During the months of fall, usually late September to late December, farms are busy with getting things ready for the chilly winter months. It is important that it is dry out when harvesting takes place because hay and most of the crops cannot be stored while they are wet. This makes harvesting stressful for many farmers due to the constant change in weather during the fall. In our lives, the fall season is also stressful sometimes. Children are returning to school, more traffic on the roadways because the schools have re-opened. With children returning to school then all their school activities such as football, music class, ballet, etc. come back and take even more of a dent out of our daily grinds. Our employers are looking for strong closing 3rd quarter tax numbers before the 4th quarter starts. This is when we need to pace ourselves and connect closer to God to renew our strength every day. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31. Christian Books – Donna Louis – To Everything There Is A Season.
Winter – Once winter rolls around on the farm, everything settles down on the farm. Even when it’s too cold for crops to grow, farmers still have duties on the farm. Even after the combines are sparklingly clean and put away for the winter, crop farmers don’t stop farming. The winter months are a time to prepare for the coming year by budgeting for and purchasing things like seed and fertilizer. When the wintry weather comes around and there are cold rainy days and the snows have descended upon us and we revert to eastern standard time for some of us things can become a little depressing. One great pick me up is the Christmas lights on people’s homes and stores. Christian Books- Donna Louis – To Everything There Is A Season.
There are times in everyone’s life when things go wrong and not according to plan. Unfortunately, I can almost guarantee that there will be disappointments and let-downs, making certain periods of your life seem like Winter. However, statements like, “Life is always hard and disappointing”, “I can never get ahead where things go my way” and “I’m always stressed” can be extremely damaging and depressing after a while, making our low periods seem longer and sometimes actually last longer. Understand that tough times always end, things do get better and Summer is coming!
Remember life is what you make it. Sure, there will be highs and lows but try changing your thought pattern. Say things like, “I have an inbuilt optimism and know that the lean times won’t last forever. Everything and everybody prospers me.” Start to look at the glass as if it is half full and not half empty. Christian Books – Donna Louis – To Everything There Is A Season. Check out my website
