Seasons

“I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:12-13 ESV

As many of you would agree, I love living where there are seasons. This specific change of seasons is my favorite. Summer is jam-packed with homestead chores, late nights, and a ton of plain old hard work. It’s great, but when sweat-stained summer cools into sweatshirt weather, it feels like we can breathe. For me, anyway. For others, this transition into fall and then winter marks the start of the busy season – like our friends in the ski industry. For them, summer is their time to rest, plan, and strategize for the whirlwind of winter ahead. Meanwhile, my grandpa in Florida is still enjoying perpetual summer. Our friends in Alaska face the beginning of winter solstice, where they’ll receive only about 5 hours of sunlight until the seasons change.

We all have seasons, but my point here is that we cannot compare the season we’re experiencing to the season of another believer. It never seems fair to look sideways at your prospering neighbor while you feel like you’re neck deep in muck. Focus on where you are and no matter whether you face a tough season or plentiful one, give thanks.