Changing Seasons

John’s sweet voice carried down the stairs, “I can’t find my AWANA vest Mom!”  I hollered back from the kitchen, “In your closet…it’s hanging in your closet.”  John yelled down again, “Mom, I can’t find it!” Meanwhile, Jacob sat alone at the patio table screaming over half of an uneaten meatball.  I was anticipating the sound of the doorbell….a neighbor or the police checking in on what appeared to be a child abuse situation, but instead I heard John beckoning me to help him find the mysteriously displaced AWANA vest.  I yelled back for John to LOOK IN HIS CLOSET.  (He only has three things in his closet, so I can’t imagine this is too difficult of a task, even for a 5-year-old.)  It was just another Wednesday night. 

Too often, I fail to show love and grace to my children in an effort to get them to church so they can learn about how much God loves them (oh my—does anyone have a good therapist?)  But tonight I was filled with amusement!?  I rinsed the last pot and mounted the stairs to help search for the missing vest.  Upon arrival on the second floor, I found my 5-year-old completely naked except for his red AWANA vest.  Laughter rose from my chest and out my mouth before I had time to admonish this confused little boy for doing what would surely make us late.  “What kind of a group do you think this is John?”  And he joined me in laughing, and I’m pretty sure God joined us too.

The change from summer to fall isn’t the only change in season.  It seems the season of suffering and sadness that claimed the majority of my year is finally retreating.  The spring was wrought with pain and suffering from losing loved ones and experiencing a herniated disk.  The summer was spent regaining my strength, both physically and emotionally.  I wasn’t suffering, but was in a fragile state—not myself.  And now with the glimmering of the sun reflecting off the changing leaves, I am feeling a glimmer of my fun self rise to the surface. 

I can’t help but be reminded of Psalm 27, which has brought me so much comfort and hope through this year of trials.    The last two verses read, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”  It has felt like a long wait in this season of suffering, and just like God delivered David (the writer of Psalm 27) from his troubles, He is delivering me from mine.  I’m looking forward to a season of joy and laughter and resting in a faith that is stronger for my trials.