Seasons of Life

As a new year begins, everywhere you look there is talk of resolutions, vision boards, goals, and things people want to focus on. It can feel pretty overwhelming, and even make us feel like we aren’t doing enough. I have been thinking a lot about the direction I want to take my life this year. There are so many wonderful things happening!! I will be going back to teaching full time. My kids are growing and maturing into AMAZING individuals! And in June my daughter is going to make me a grandma for the first time! I am SO EXCITED, and it has been so fun to see her begin this new season of her life. That got me thinking about the different seasons we all go through in life, and the gratitude I feel for each of them. (And yes, this post will DEFINITELY show my age, but that’s ok haha!) I remember being a young 21 year old - still going to college, trying to prepare to welcome my oldest daughter into the world. That time in my life feels like yesterday, and I look back on it so fondly - but I do remember how difficult it was as I was going through it. I remember the exhaustion I felt as I tried to get my degree and take care of a little baby at the same time. There were so many sleepless nights as I fed her and changed diapers, and also studied for midterms or prepared projects for school. But I ultimately got through that season of life and moved on to the next one.

We were BOTH babies!

I love living in Utah because our weather allows me to see all 4 seasons throughout the year. I love the crisp Winter air as I watch the newly fallen snow, the fragrant smell of blossoms bursting on the trees in the Spring, the warm sun shining down on my face as I spend the day on the lake in the Summer, or the crunch of leaves beneath my feet as I go for a walk in the Fall. It’s nice to know that change is always coming, especially as we grow tired of an endlessly snowy Winter, or extremely hot Summer. That same pattern can be seen in our lives. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf said:

“We have seasons in our lives as well. Some are warm and pleasant. Others are not. Some of the days in our lives are as beautiful as pictures in a calendar. And yet there are days and circumstances that cause heartache and may bring into our lives deep feelings of despair, resentment, and bitterness.

I am sure at one time or another we have all thought it would be nice to take up residence in a land filled only with days of picture-perfect seasons and avoid the unpleasant times in between. But this is not possible. Nor is it desirable.

As I look over my own life, it is apparent that many of the times of greatest growth have come to me while passing through stormy seasons.”

As difficult as some of them may be, I know that there is a purpose for the different seasons in our lives. While we go through them, I want to suggest we focus on a few different things: Awareness, Learning, and Compassion. As I focus on these simple words, I find I have that growth that Elder Uchtdorf talked about.

First, we should have AWARENESS about the season of our life that we are in. It may be a season of learning, as we go through college or start a new job. Sometimes we go through seasons of joy as we get married or add members to our family! It may be a season of physical fitness as we train for a marathon, or go on a pioneer trek. We may find ourselves in a season of pain as we navigate difficult relationships, or grieve the life you always wanted but haven’t ended up with. We could even be in a season of despair as we deal with mental health challenges, or the loss of a family member. It always helps me to write about the seasons I am going through. As I journal I am able to see things a little more clearly, and can become aware about what it is that I am experiencing, opening myself up to inspiration from my Father in Heaven.

Next, it is important to LEARN from the season of life we are in, In Ecclesiastes 3, we read:

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.”

There are a few things that stand out to me. I love the phrase “there is . . . a time to every purpose under the heaven.” The seasons of our lives are full of opportunity! They allow the Lord to accomplish the purposes of heaven and “prove [us] herewith.” He can teach us sacred and spiritual truths, and offer us the opportunity to use our agency for good. The phrase “a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted” reminds us that growth in each season of our lives also requires effort on our part. No matter the season of life we are in, we need to make sure we are turning to the Lord in prayer, thanking Him for our many blessings, and asking for help when we need it. We can pray to know what He would have us learn from this season, or how to use it to grow.

Lastly, we need to remember to have COMPASSION on ourselves through the seasons of our lives. This life is hard, and our Father in Heaven knows it. That’s why He gave us a Savior who can bear our burdens, mourn with us, and succor us when we are weak. Even though our most challenging seasons tend to produce the most growth, discouragement can creep in at times and stop our progress because we do not always see immediate results from our efforts. Sometimes growth and refinement take time. As we are facing difficult seasons, like when I had a baby while I was finishing up my education, we can remind ourselves that we are doing the best we can. A lot of times we need to remember to not try to do more than we are able. We can’t do it all. We must have compassion and tell ourselves what we are doing is enough!

I promise that as we try to shift our focus during the different seasons of life that we are in, we can expand our awareness, increase our learning, and cultivate an attitude of compassion upon ourselves. By doing so, we will be able to grow in ways we never thought were possible!

I would like to close with a quote from Elder L. Tom Perry.

“Those of us who have been around a while have recognized certain patterns in life’s test. There are cycles of good and bad times, ups and downs, periods of joy and sadness, and times of plenty as well as scarcity. When our lives turn in an unanticipated and undesirable direction, sometimes we experience stress and anxiety. One of the challenges of this mortal experience is to not allow the stresses and strains of life to get the better of us—to endure the varied seasons of life while remaining positive, even optimistic. Perhaps when difficulties and challenges strike, we should have these hopeful words of Robert Browning etched in our minds: “The best is yet to be” We can’t predict all the struggles and storms in life, not even the ones just around the next corner, but as persons of faith and hope, we know beyond the shadow of any doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the best is yet to come.”