Seasons

There are four seasons in the mountains. Each season holds its value and represents some part of my life. Right now the leaves are changing colors. My life has changed so drastically in the past couple months. August marked a change of a new season. I like to think that God has changed the colors in my life and made them brilliant just like the leaves during the peak season of the leave change. In this city, many people come just to admire the beauty of the radiant leaves. These people see something different in our area than they see anywhere else. The same God that makes these changes in something as simple as a tree can transform my life and has. Since the beginning of fall, God has slowly moved in my life and finally has let the change that has transformed my heart radiate on my face so that others can recognize the change. After all, is that not one of our purposes in our lives? We are to bear fruit so that other people can see the change that only the God of the universe can make. He is so amazing. Now, in Asheville the leaves are about to fall off the tree and the crisp air sets in along with the frost. God strips the leaves off of the trees so that he may take them through the winter to eventually let their flowers blossom in the spring. I know that God is taking me through a time of complete transformation. I know the potential God has for my life if I let him mold me as a potter molds their clay. Transformation is not an easy process. Winter can seem to be long, dark, and depressing. At times, that is exactly what it is. I’m not saying that everything about winter is bad. He gives us beautiful snow, the birth of his son, and the love of my family during the holidays. In my life, he gives me glimpses of hope in a time of trial and transformation. It is in these times, that I have told hold on to the promise that God knows the blueprint for my life and in the end of the pain there is a greater purpose that I cannot see. After winter, spring sneaks in. It starts to warm up. Notice the effects of seasons don’t happen over night. They slowly change so that we can adjust. One day it may be 70 degrees and the next day we feel like we are in winter all over again just for a day. The same principal is true in my life. Storms, trials and tests in our lives shape our future. However, God does not promise there will not be pain. He promises hope and his everlasting presence. After going through a hard time the days start to get better day-by-day. That does not mean there will not be gloomy or even sad days. It happens, that’s what we call life. The flowers start to blossom in spring. In my life, after a lot of pain, struggle and perseverance God reveals the purpose for some of the events of my life. He provides clarity. He won’t always give me all the answers. One day, when I stand before him I will fully understand. However, eventually the days get warmer and warmer. Then we come to summer. Let’s face it we have a lot of memories in the summer. Students are out of school. There are lots of pool days, road trips, and beach vacations. Some of these memories are with our family and others are with our friends. Summer in my life is a time of reflection. I can look around see the good memories, as well as the ones that were not so pleasant. Regardless, they each have a special place and my life and one cannot exist without the other. This makes the picture of my life a little fuller. I can go back to pictures and vividly remember where I was and why I was there. It provides warmth in my life. Then God brings us back to fall. After we gain a little more understanding he begins to bring in the cool weather again and change the leaves once more….