The seasons are changing. Well except if you live in Michigan, where I live. Somehow, we went from winter, to spring and back to winter in a matter of a couple of weeks. Throughout our lives we can go through different seasons. Just like the natural season, Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, we can go through different seasons. Like the first snow of the year, when everyone in Michigan seems to forget that it snows and how to drive in it. Seasons change in the weather, seasons change in life, but are we ready?
Our marriages can go through seasons too. And it’s ok that they do. Our growth should be individually and as a couple. There are more seasons than just Dating, Engagement and Marriage and Kids. There are so many seasons and stages that we experience over time..
From my personal story I can attest to this. My wife and I have gone through those seasons mentioned above as well as unemployment, promotion, self-development and dreaming.
How do we handle the change in seasons? Can we really come through each difficult season on top? I believe that we can. We are more powerful than we give ourselves credit for. How do we prepare for each season or a season of change?
- Meditation & Prayer – Spending even five minutes a day meditating and in prayer can change how you view your day. As a Christian we should be spending time with God. We don’t want to treat God like a genie in a bottle and only go to Him when we need or want something. He will help us through the day and season that we’re going through. It was David’s time in meditation and prayer while he was tending to his father’s flocks that prepared him to face Goliath (1 Samuel 16).
- Communication – This one is key. Especially if you are married. Just because you’re married doesn’t mean that you go through each season at the same time. There was a season where I was unemployed. While that affected our household because we went from two incomes down to one, my wife and I went through that season together and separately. Communication was key because I needed to let her know how I was dealing with the season and how she could support me. We had to regularly communicate through this whole season, as we should through all our seasons
- Vision – You have to have a mental picture of where you are going. While seasons change, it doesn’t mean that our year stops. We all know that December 31st is coming, but we don’t stop living our lives in October when the leaves start to fall. It just means that the season is about to change. Fall is coming, so we prepare for it. Break out the rakes and leaf blowers. Get the house and yard ready for cold weather. Doing these things is us looking at the season of Fall coming but also looking ahead and knowing that Winter will not be far behind it.
No matter the season that you’re going through, you can look through it and ahead to where you want to be. Look ahead to where you want to go.
