A Time For Everything

I am so grateful God created every season in my life. I am now in a season of celebration! I celebrate reaping the benefits from each prior season, learning from my mistakes, salving the wounds, but most important, recognizing God's presence when I couldn't at the time.

During the season when I tried to be super wife, mom, social activist, church leader and public servant, all at once, I crashed, physically and emotionally. But the Lord picked me up and put Christian friends in my life to help put me back together. I was in God's hands all along, and He led me through it without my awareness and despite my resistance.

I celebrate having worked through unfinished pains from childhood so that I can truly enjoy companioning my mom now. I celebrate precious time with grandchildren. I savor both our specially planned times and our serendipitous moments.

I celebrate a growing ability to limit my list of "to dos," keeping them in tune with God's precious timing and purpose. As Creator and CEO of the universe, God's blueprints and timing are exquisite. He only asks us to love him back, to seek justice, love mercy, pray for our enemies and walk humbly with Him. That's it! I celebrate the victory of trusting God to do the things I cannot.

I celebrate the change of seasons, especially the signs in each offering hope and expectancy for the next. But just as when warm temperatures in the winter force premature budding and limit spring blooming, so do our own seasons sometimes end prematurely or unexpectedly. We mourn the deaths of loved ones and unmet dreams and plans. However, all living things with strong roots thrive over many seasons. Claiming our connectedness to the Creator and claiming our salvation through Christ guarantees our own continuity of seasons.

Celebrate life with me in whatever season of your life! Celebrate with me as we live in Christ's living presence and constant companionship. May we claim His victory every moment, every day, since none of us is ever certain when our season of life on this planet will come to an end. Celebrate with me the assurance of resurrection and eternal life with a Risen Lord! Hallelujah! Amen!

— Ginny Johnson

Courtesy of The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist