Director's Thought for the Week

Ministries Unlimited Thought For The Week (#19)

Season of Change

The cooler weather, the crop harvests, the bright burst of mums, and the varying shades of leaves are all indicators of fall. This is one of my favorite times of the year because nature puts on a spectacular color show. I am up in plenty of time to enjoy the sunrise and stay up long enough to enjoy a leisurely sunset. The cooler weather makes me dream of campfires and long walks.

Just like the seasons, our lives also go through changes. Fall represents a shift in our lives and preparing for that shift. But first, we have to acknowledge that there is a shift. Welcome it, plan for it, and pray about it. Whether it is a change in your job, family, faith, or finances, change can be managed by preparing, accepting, and praying.

October can also be a difficult month for those who experience seasonal depression. For me, this time of year brings a bit of sadness and regret. October reminds me that life is fleeting and that our days are numbered. Scripture reminds us that our days are known to God. We don't know how many days we have; only God knows.

October 13, 2004, brought my family an overwhelming amount of grief and sadness. It was the day my younger sister passed away from pancreatic cancer.

During the months leading up to her death, I prayed that God would work a miracle. Then I prayed that He would take her quickly and lessen her pain. Afterwards, I asked God why He took her after giving her the children she had always wanted. My twin nieces were only 18 months old when their mother died. They grew up never knowing the loving mother that she was.

My faith was tested and, regretfully, I left the church a few years later. The answers I sought weren't there, and the regrets of not having done enough were overwhelming.

Fast forward to October 14, 2017, when we lost my brother due to declining health and cancer. It was another loss that took its toll.

During the months leading up to his death, my mother kept telling me it was time—time to have the difficult end-of-life conversation with my brother. So, the hard talk was done and everything was arranged. Then it was time to wait.

As the days came closer to the anniversary of my sister's death, I knew my brother was holding on so it wouldn't be the same day. I prayed for a week that he would just let go and meet God on the other side. He had been in pain for so many years as a quadriplegic. It was time for him to walk again, with Jesus by his side. I knew his faith was strong.

After my brother passed, it was a struggle for Mom to find joy. Her life had revolved around visiting my brother's home as his backup caregiver, grocery shopper, and cook for 36 years. Those years had taken a toll on her.

One day she told me she was tired. She didn't want to be around to bury another child.

During her life, my mother buried three children. The first was a stillbirth; we found out about him shortly after we graduated from high school. I could see her will to live dwindling, so we gave her a reason to keep going: Just be around until the girls graduate from high school.

She passed away after they had started their second semester of college.

I recently finished reading Dust to Dust by Jen Wilkin. In her book, she talks about first and last breaths. It brought to mind the fact that as our family members left us, those of us who remained were there for their last breaths.

My parents passed eight years apart, and my youngest and oldest siblings were 13 years apart. As we were going through pictures for my mother's memorial in 2022, we found one of all four of us children and two cousins—a total of six children. Today, only two of us are still living.

One cousin passed away at the age of 12, my younger sister at 39, the other cousin at 55, and my older brother at 57. At the time, I was 59.

Life is fleeting. Change occurs.

Last year around this time, our family went through another change. This time, the burden was more than I could shoulder.

I have been through trials with my son, questioned my faith and walked away, found life can be very depressing, still prayed while wondering if I was even being heard, and fallen to my knees asking for forgiveness.

This time, it took courage and strength to walk through the doors of a different faith community and give my life to Christ.

Looking back, I can see that God has always been there. He has given me the strength to get through life's trials and losses. Each event comes with a change in outlook, heart, and faith.

Seasons of our lives are seasons of change. We grow older and, hopefully, wiser. We know there will be days of joy and days of sorrow. There will be sadness, regrets, and trials.

But there will also be new beginnings.

Psalm 90:12 reminds us: “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.”

As the leaves change and another season begins, perhaps we can look at the changes in our own lives differently. Change isn't always something to fear. Sometimes it is an invitation to grow, to let go, to begin again, and to discover where God is leading us.

Find the joy in each season of life. Embrace the change. And, most importantly, don't forget to live the season you are in.