“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
Spring has come with all of its beauty, fragrance and pollen. Every season has its own peculiar characteristics. Whether it’s the crisp, clear mornings of winter, the greening and beautiful time of spring when the flowers and trees put there wares on display, the pleasant summer evenings following hot days when the light breeze brings with it such refreshment and relaxation, or the unique beauty that comes with the fall when the colors begin to change to their various hues and shades … each season of the year is special.
Where we live there are a large number of Bradford pear trees that in the spring are absolutely beautiful. It’s as if they are reaching out to us and saying, ‘isn’t this a beautiful day to be alive!’ But they don’t stay that way for very long, especially if strong winds, a late freeze or a sudden hail storm punishes them. Those beautiful blooms … they are here today and gone tomorrow!
Just as there are seasons in the year, there are seasons in each of our lives. And like the blooms of the Bradford pears, we’re here today, but gone tomorrow. This isn’t something we reference to be depressing or discouraging, it is something that each of the living must apply to their heart, mind and life. The Bible speaks with great clarity of the shortness of life and of the value to live each season of life with God in mind! We only stay young for a while. The youthful exuberance, the thru-the-roof energy doesn’t stay for long, just like the Bradford pear blossoms. Now, granted we should do all that we can to take care of our physical bodies and minds … eating more responsibly, getting some exercise and movement, and so forth … but we’re still going to get older with each passing day! And one day we will be gone!
Whether it is the season of being little and young, or the season and the thrill of young love in one’s life, or the delights of finding that ‘one’ who completes your life and you begin together the journey of marriage, then the joys of parenthood, the growth experiences in all of life’s many relationships, being a part of the workforce (and sometimes for a longer or shorter time that we expected), the privilege of becoming grandparents and finally the time and season of retirement … each and every season of life has its own glory, disappointment, joy and heartache! The Lord allows all of this to help us understand that we just shouldn’t be putting too much emphasis on this temporary life we live. He has prepared a far better place for us to dwell for eternity!
The challenge for each of us is really so simple: Recognize the beauty of each season, have your favorite, but understand that life moves on. God didn’t fashion this physical body of ours to live forever. Yes, “He breathed into man the breath of life” and “He made us in His image” and “He has placed eternity in each of our hearts”. What we do then with all of this information is up to us! May each of us learn to be fruitful and productive and pleasant to be around in every season of life that Our Heavenly Father grants us to be a part of and have the confidence and trust to believe that He will be right there with us through it all.
“I will be the same until your old age, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear and save you.” (Isaiah 46:4).
Bill Fairchild, Jr
Very true and thank you for sharing. We have Bradford Pears in Bowling Green. Today a storm came through and not only blew the flowers off but many trees were lost. Here today and gone tomorrow. Bradford Pears are also notorious for appearing healthy on the outside to only be rotten inside. I’m sure there are a few lessons there as well…. Keep up the great work!!!