As I sit here looking out at the branches on my trees, some are still heavy with leaves while others are bare and hover over the tiny pile of leaves beneath it. It’s again the end of October. In my part of the world South Central Wisconsin, it is a month of transition. Not all but most of the vibrant color is gone from the leaves. Some have let go of their branches, but most with their various shades of browns and yellows remain. These are the same branches that lay bare from November to March, hold the baby buds of April and the blossoming buds in May. June July and August they showed off their glorious shades of green. Yes and then September and once again October is here and closing fast.

Our lives have seasons. 18 months ago my oldest daughter was presented with the scenario of limited seasons. So she began enjoying her seasons with new vigor. Planning the things she always meant to do, saying the words she always meant to say. She was excited to learn that she was going to be a first time grandma. She spoke of wondering if she would make it to meet her. It reminds us of the two dates on a headstone separated with just a dash. That dash represents everyday of your life. We spoke of the probability of her and her granddaughter and whether they would share any of the dash. It was such a joy for her to have shared 6 months and 2 days of that dash with Wren Elizabeth.  She said many mornings I would wake up feeling like I couldn’t  or didn’t wanted to attempt yet another day of struggle…THEN I would hear her voice attempting to communicate and that is all I needed to give me the strength to swing my legs over the edge of the bed and start another day.  

                                                

                                                  

Two weeks before our annual second Saturday in August family reunion, she spoke with her hospice worker about attending. The reply was Autumn I think if you go you will spend a lot of your marbles that you won’t get back. To which Autumn replied “So if I go I could spend the day with all of my family, then die in 10 days or I can stay home and not see my family and live for 2 months.”

She decided to go and was able to stay for the whole thing. Even one of her favorite parts, the music at the end. When we get out the guitars, keyboard etc and everyone that stays sings. Exactly 10 days later  her seasons on this earth ended.

A thought to ponder “Is it better to understand your seasons are numbered, leaving you with the treasure of making each one count, or living our lives like they will never end…with intentions to do it, say it or finish it later!! Which may or may not happen. It was a blessing (though not always fun) with both my husband and my daughter we were aware of the numbered seasons. So we all got busy making sure we did it all and left nothing unsaid!!

A remind from God’s Word.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

1.There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

²     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

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A poem I wrote 20 years ago….

                                The Promise of the Spring

I sit here with a mental thought,

of the clouded winter sky.

When all the living things of earth,

have took their turn to die.

The crusty snow provides a cover,

for the ground so hard and cold.

The trees are bare, with branches seen.

They look so stripped and old.

You wonder then if they’ll make it back,

to hold the birds that sing.

But it seems they have inside of them,

the promise of the spring.

When death takes someone close.

All things turn dark and cold.

The empty uselessness remains.

Despite what we are told.

We fear the cold will last forever.

Gray clouds will always fill the sky.

The one we loved is dead and gone.

We’re left behind to say, Goodbye.

Someone you held so close to you,

Has gone where angels sing.

Hold on tight; because with tomorrow;

comes the Promise of the Spring.

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In the very last chapter of my book  The Top of the Falls  I ended with a somewhat clearer understanding of these words.

It doesn’t have to be well with your circumstances, to be well with your soul. And once again it felt was well with my soul.

FAST FORWARD 22 YRS AND I CAN SAY

Though today much in life is still jumbled, and different. I have so much and so many people to be grateful for. The older we get the more likely we are to understand we all have limits on our seasons. I can still say.

It doesn’t have to be well with your circumstances, to be well with my soul.     And I can once again say.  It is well with my soul.

Blessings! Thanks for reading!