Winter In All Of Our Lives

          I belong to a group called "Legacy Coalition" which promotes ways for grandparents to minister to their grandchildren.  Their e-mails are always filled with constructive ideas including many specifically for grandparents themselves.

          Recently they sent a poem "Winter In All Of Our Lives" which describes the various seasons of life that we all encounter.  But the season that most of us older folks have reached is winter.  It is a season that is inevitable and one which we can't skip.  I have shared this topic in previous blogs so the notion is not new.

          But as I thought about it I began to realize that winter isn't just for seniors.  It can hit everyone, often suddenly, when you may least expect it.  Life change can happen to anyone.

          I have been praying for many who are presently in their winter season despite their age.  A friend who is a mother has just been introduced to hospice care.  A 60 year old friend is suffering with Alzheimer's.  A 42 year old mother is suffering from the results of covid. Some friends of ours are dealing with children who are rejecting the Lord.  A 50 year old close friend of my son is dying with pancreatic cancer.  Another friend has been diagnosed with colon cancer and needs surgery.  Four folks from our church have died in the past week leaving spouses all alone.  Several others are living with pain.  The winter season can come so quickly, at any age.

          Now we can prepare for the actual winter.  We can get our shovels and ice melt ready.  We can get our snow blowers ready.  We can check our batteries and antifreeze and car tires.  Then we just wait to have it happen.

         But it is much harder to prepare for a mental winter.  Possibly the best thing one can do is to draw closer to the Lord. through prayer, Bible reading and Bible memorization.  That does take real discipline, but is the best preparation for winter.

Winter in All of Our Lives

There is a winter in all of our lives,

a chill and darkness that makes us yearn

for days that have gone

or put our hope in days yet to be.

Father God, you created seasons for a purpose.

Spring is full of expectation

buds breaking

frosts abating and an awakening

of creation before the first days of summer.

Now the sun gives warmth

and comfort to our lives

reviving aching joints

bringing colour, new life

and crops to fruiting.

Autumn gives nature space

to lean back, relax and enjoy the fruits of its labour

mellow colours in sky and landscape

as the earth prepares to rest.

Then winter, cold and bare as nature takes stock

rests, unwinds, sleeps until the time is right.

An endless cycle

and yet a perfect model.

We need a winter in our lives

a time of rest, a time to stand still

a time to reacquaint ourselves

with the faith in which we live.

It is only then that we can draw strength

from The One in whom we are rooted

take time to grow and rise through the darkness

into the warm glow of your springtime

to blossom and flourish

bring colour and vitality into this world

your garden.

Thank you Father

for the seasons of our lives.

– Author Unknown