Seasons

I was asked to be a guest writer on my friend Laurel's blog.  I thought I'd share here what I wrote.

Seasons 
 

  

What season are you in?

I am writing this during my "quiet time".

My 7-month-old daughter woke up an hour early from her nap and is now crawling around on the floor determined to get past the chair and pillow barricade I erected in a futile attempt to keep her away from the electrical outlets.  She is snacking on paper and Kleenexes.

My 3-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son are arguing about where they want to have their rest time.  My 3-year-old is upset with me because I'm not having a poonsee party with her.  (I have no idea what a poonsee party is.)

I don't know where in the house my 10-year-old (going on 15) daughter is.  Her life is full of drama right now.

The power and water are not on, so the laundry won't get done today and I have a half-raw chicken that was supposed to be our dinner sitting in a cold crockpot on the counter top.

This is the season I am in.

God has placed me here as a missionary in South Africa and I'm still not entirely sure why He has chosen this season of my life to do so.  I don't know if I will be here for 2 years or 22 years or more, but I am determined to enjoy this season while it lasts.  Every season is different; this season may be worse than the last season, but it may be better than the next!

Most days I feel that I've had a successful day if we all make it to bed alive, have eaten at least one healthy thing during the day and have changed out of our pajamas by noon.  Getting hair and teeth brushed on the same day is a bonus!

I recently read a quote by Beth Moore, "An unhappy woman usually needs a change of heart more than a change of circumstances."  I wouldn't say that I'm characteristically unhappy, but I often don't live my life with the joy that God wants me to have.  Many times our circumstances can't be changed, but our hearts always can.

My circumstances happen to change frequently.  In 13 years of marriage I have moved 15 times.  In that time I have lived in 2 countries and 5 US cities.  My growing kids also change my circumstances regularly.

I often look to the future, wanting a map or some idea of what to expect so that I can plan accordingly today.  For some reason God has not chosen to reveal those details to me.  I have to trust that His ways and thoughts are higher than my ways and thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My ways,"
declares the Lord.

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are My ways higher than your ways
and My thoughts than your thoughts."

He sees the big picture, the end of the dark tunnel, the other side of the huge mountain, my next season.

He is already there.

He has me where He wants me today so that He can get me to where He wants me to be tomorrow.

I will never again have the exact opportunities I have today.  I will never again have a 10-year-old, a 7-year-old, a 3-year-old and a 7-month-old.  How does God want to change my heart today?  What am I missing out on today by waiting for a change of season?

You must excuse me now, I am the guest of honor at a poonsee party!

~Jenny