Well, as of today, its finally here! Though you may have felt like this past weekend was a little hot and oppressive, it was only Spring, so it couldn’t have been that bad, right? Most people I talk to seem to prefer the extra ‘hot’ they get in the Summertime compared to the extra ‘cold’ of Winter, but then this is Iowa, so most will complain about the weather regardless of what it is like. Its either too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry, too cloudy, too windy, etc. Even if we had on-demand weather that we could order, it still would not make everyone happy. Honestly, being born and living most of my life in Iowa, I have come to embrace and celebrate the change of seasons. We can find something to appreciate about each season and each day if we try, even just a little. Whether it’s the weather or the hundred other little things that we experience each day, our perspective can be influenced for better or worse, if we allow it to. What’s your favorite season?
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot. Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
If someone were to ask you, ‘what season of life are you in’, what would you say? You can base it on your age, what career path you are on, or where you are in relationship to your family members, or even God. Changes in any one of these areas can have a significant impact on your attitude or even outlook on life. I was holding a 6 week old little girl this past evening and realized I had a depth of love and care for her as much or more than any other person I have known in my life, including myself. There are many hopes and uncertainties ahead, but my goal is just to do the best I can each day to give her and my family and friends and even strangers the best life that I am able to do. That doesn’t mean money and things as much as it means life lessons and the importance of knowing Jesus. Being generous with what I have to give may vary from season to season, but the intent stays the same. ‘God, use me to further your Kingdom and Your Love, however that may look in any situation.’
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:44-45
Most every night in our house, after we are done with dinner, I get a request for ‘Dance!’ from a 3 year old. This usually consists of 2-7 songs, which I may change up a little, and lots of chasing one another around the kitchen, some hide and seek, and a few dance moves thrown in for fun. We didn’t usually ever do this before these requests came in, but I am finding it is not a bad tradition, even with the baby sometimes. We are in a season of dance in our home. There are likely many other seasons we all will encounter as we pass through this life, with some being planned, and many unplanned. When we have God central in our hearts, we can fully embrace and get through whatever seasons we encounter, till the time He calls us home. We don’t always get it right the first time, but when our hearts are right, there is always an opportunity for a season to grow.
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31
Yours in Christ,
Clark
