Thoughtful Thursday----Seasons Come and Seasons Go....

Forgive me, folks, for a painfully truthful post today.

I know we have been talking about fall, 

and we have been talking about the beauty, and the colors, 

and the pumpkins, and the yummy treats, etc.

 that all go with this season.

But along with this season comes a time of laying things down for a time, 

almost a dying of things as they wait through the cold time until Spring comes again.

I have those same seasons in my own life,

 and can look back over the years ...

to see where God has moved one area of my life into Spring

 while laying another to rest for a time...

 just as the earth rests through winter until the warmth of Spring comes.

Today as I watched the leaves fall from the trees,

and as I saw the naked arms of the trees emerge,

and the cold wind began to blow,

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I could feel in my heart that the Lord was going to be doing some 

changes in some areas of my life as well.

Have you ever had those moments?

Where you know in your heart with a certainty that the time has come 

to close a door?

Especially if you feel like you have had an inkling before  

that the time is close, 

almost breathing cold winter winds on a cherished time of your life.

I'm there tonight.

I am having to do one of the hardest things I have ever done.

Let go of something that has been an incredibly cherished part of my life for more than 20 years.

I dont need to tell you exactly what it is, because all of us,

 at one time or another, 

have to lay down things that we really regret walking away from, 

but we know it is time to do.

Behind all the beauty, all the fun, 

all the jumping in the leaves, and eating candy apples,

 lies a hard truth to Autumn that we choose to look around,

over, 

or through.

That all things, sooner or later, come to an end.

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In my walk with the Lord over the last 22 years, I have been blessed to have many times of Spring, many long summers, and only a few short brutally strong Winters.  It is hard for me to let go of things,

 lay them down to rest in the Lord's hands 

until He chooses to breathe life into them again.

Why?

Because sometimes they have turned out to be annuals, 

and a long hard winter kills them down to the roots. 

They dont bloom again.

 Ever.

And when it is something you love, 

and look forward to having as a part of you, 

those things are definitely the hardest to lay down.

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I can look back and see a few of those things in my life, and some of them I still mourn, many years later. Others I look at and know God was bringing something better into my life, and I had to let go and let Him show me what it was that He intended for me all along.

As the years have passed as I walk with Him, I have found that I am more and more sensitive to His leading, 

His whispering in my heart to go one way, or turn another.

This time I missed the boat.

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A couple months ago, I was given an opportunity to walk away from this, and felt I had to do whatever I could to keep this in my life. I battled the choice for days, fasting, weeping, asking for wisdom. I was torn by what path to take...but never wanted to really hear which one He wanted me to take, because I was too wrapped up in my fear of "what ifs" that might follow if He said to lay it down.

 It has been a part of who I am for so long, 

I am not sure who I will be without it.

Now I wish I had walked away, calmly, quietly, 

as befitting a woman that follows the Lord.

Who lays down what she wants to follow her Master and King.

Who accepts that things change.

Callings change.

Ministries change.

Passions, and Pursuits change.

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Have you ever had times in your life where you have felt the coming of fall or winter, and known something must be laid down? Times of waiting, of praying, of reaching further into finding out what it is that the Lord has for you?

I will pray for you.

Pray for me.

Many Blessings to you and yours,

Heather

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