Seasons of Life

I once heard in a lesson, from a counselor in a stake Relief Society in a former ward, an analogy about seasons of life. Seasons to her represented different periods of her life. She likened winter to times of trial, spring to the glorious beauty and rebirth after the trial is over, summer to enjoy the warmth of learning, and fall to view brilliant color changes which reflect growth and also prepares for the next winter. She described how some winters were harsh, cold, and debilitating while others only seemed cloudy. Yet as she learned from these winters, a bright spring always came. Upon hearing this analogy, I latched on to it. After all these years, it still resonates within my heart.

I have been thinking about seasons of life lately. Spring, summer, or fall seem easy and convenient to share with others. Yet during winter, it is easier to retreat because emotionally seeing someone else in a spring, summer, or fall can be difficult. I have had some heartbreaking news in the last few weeks. I won't go into detail; it just suffices to say that a difficult winter turned into a glorious spring only to bring a devastating winter back too quickly. When the winter comes for me, it is a large part of blogging that I find difficult. By only reading about someone else's life on the computer screen it can seem like a perpetual spring or summer. And when the winter comes in my life, it is hard to remember that others have winters too. The learning has come for me by realizing that I must remember whatever season it seems that others are in, I really don't know what winters they have had to face to be glorying in their own spring or summer.