Embracing the season ...

I am LOVING the change of season right now ... the daffodils coming up and sitting in my mason jar, the trees budding out, the warm afternoons and running outside, daylight til 7 pm!

Of course, it might be a tad ironic that as I write this, it's snowing like crazy in northern AR.  I'm just thanking my lucky stars, it's NOT here.

And the baseball game I watched yesterday, in a sweatshirt, under a blanket.  Well, let's just say, spring has not completely sprung yet.  Mother Nature needs a little help regulating her thermostat!

I was talking to a sweet friend a few weeks ago who is about to start a new season in a new city as she finishes up her pharmacy degree with clinicals far, far away from the Athens she knows and loves.  And we talked about seasons ... and how different seasons are for different reasons, and they aren't bad, but neither are they all the same.  But, regardless, they are just that, a season (that will one day change).

One of the places I've seen God in these past few days is in embracing this season in my life.

There are a lot of things I LOVE about being back "home" ... I no longer am the conference call at family birthdays and celebrations!  I am HOME for Kevin's birthday this week ... and for all of the events of my Mom's impending retirement ... and I love it!  For so many years, trying to include me, the family would call to tell me about the dinner they were all having together that I was missing ... and you know what, that did NOT help! :-)

But I miss that season where ministry was my life.  I miss the long lunches and the conversations that made me so thankful to see God work in someone's life.  This time of year I ache for spring break mission trips ... and preparing for summer missions.  I don't have a mission trip on my calendar and it makes me kind of sad!  But, I know this is a season ... and those days will come again!

I don't have a small group of girls or a few individuals that I am pouring my life into week after week.  But, I am finding, that this season in life, God is letting me have the pleasure of being a better friend to those He's given me ... and so, instead of being so busy doing life and ministry and dealing with whomever was right in front of me, I've given the time to write letter and make care packages, to spend time praying or some friends who are dealing with some really tough stuff.  I have evenings to chat on the phone or to make gifts to send ... and that, is my season of ministry right now ... to care for the grieving, to minister to those who are facing uncertainty, to pray for those in despair.

And, to reconnect with old friends - I've missed birthday parties and ballgames, dance recitals, and births.  I've missed every day, run of the mill lunches and funerals.  But, today, I got to just do life with the friends who are in my path for this season.

So, while my life looks different than it did two years ago, it is a season.  And it is a sweet season of loving and being loved ... it is a season of renewal and reward.  It is a season of rest.  It is a season of waiting and trusting.  It has drawn me to depend on God in ways I have never.  And when the spring blooms give way to summer's heat and