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Seasons

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King Solomon spoke of this in Ecclesiastes when he wrote, 
And there is a time for every event under heaven—
A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together.
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.” 
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Seasons. 
I could add a mom’s version to King Solomon’s words:
I’ve left the Christmas season with its feasting behind, and entered the fat season, where I must starve to lose the weight from that feasting.
I’ve allowed the children to eat sugar at every celebration and stay up late, and now I must control these creatures buzzing around my house who are extra crabby.
And why did I think that noisy, obnoxious toy was such a great find at the thrift store?
Anyone know how long a battery can last in a loud toy? [Take a guess—close to eternity. No seasons there.]
And that Lego piece that seemed so harmless, [doesn’t it encourage creative thoughts?] is not harmless and does not encourage creative thoughts when I step on it in my bare feet in the middle of the night trying to get to the bathroom.
With all that “extended family time,” now I must de-tox my children from what they saw, heard, did, and ate, and get them back on a school schedule. (Talk about the impossible.)
Watching a lot of movies brings the kids to a stupor that accelerates ‘boredom;’ it’s time to clean the barn and get some fresh air.
Well, you get the point.

Seasons.
Laxity brings a need for tighter control.
Catch up.
Re-establishment of rules.
The dreaded word—discipline.
And so we enter another season.
The winter months seem dark and dreary. Don’t know how those in Alaska survive without the sun. My few cloudy days are enough to chase me for my candles and lights to brighten up the dark rooms.
Glad winter doesn’t last long here. And with our winters comes green.

It’s a good time to read. But I’ve developed a critical eye after reading how a book must be written. It takes the joy from reading. Sigh.
Thus my season for reading seems stunted and my writing takes a form of skepticism and critique spoken to the wind.
Solomon also spoke of this, “the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.” Ecclesiastes 12:12.
Seasons.

Where do you find yourself?
Wishing for time to…?
Wishing you didn’t have to do….?

When our boys were little, my husband would remind me to enjoy them now.
Even as they are leaving faster than they came, he still says, “These are the good times.”
Instead of wishing for what’s not here, enjoy the moment.
That is learned, not given.
That comes with effort, practice and praise.

It’s that contentment and praise again.
We tell God, “Thanks. This is good.” Regardless of what season we find ourselves.
Solomon said this: “Remember also your Creator. . .” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

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Rough Season? 
Remember to give God praise.
And you will find the season moves onto the next.
And the memories will be good.

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I write about what matters...to you---
women, wives and moms---
about your family, faith and future.
I write about what's hard, what helps and what heals.
I show you how it's done. And not done.
I hold your hand as you find what matters to the Savior.
And let go of those things that mattered to you, but not to Him.
I write about what matters...to Him.
               Sonya Contreras

Author of Biblical fiction, married to my best friend, and challenged by eight sons’ growing pains as I write about what matters.

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