I grew up listening to my dad's old 45 record of The Byrds and "Turn! Turn! Turn!" At the time, I had no idea that the words were taken directly from Ecclesiastes, but the tune sure helped me to cement them into my head. Solomon gives us a great reminder of the ebb and flow of life in these words. There is a time for everything. There's a time for birth and a time for death; a time for sadness and a time for joy; a time for war and a time for peace. There's a time for everything.
When I was younger I didn't put as much stock in the words of Solomon as I do now. I will never forget the time when the concept first made sense to me. I was just a few months out of college, and I was feeling like I was missing out on the fun that my younger friends were still experiencing. The floor I lived on at Taylor performed a freshman initiation, and it was not uncommon for alumni from the past to show up for the festivities. I happened to be in town, so I decided to go and participate in watching the freshmen receive their "punishments." At the moment when all of this took place, I realized that my time at college was up and that that was okay. It was hard to leave, and I never thought I would be ready for it, but when the time came, I was okay.
I believe that God prepares us for the seasons that we face in our lives. I have found over and over again that my gracious Heavenly Father has enabled me to move forward at the appropriate time with few regrets for the changes that were taking place. Isn't that true in all of life? When winter comes (as it is coming now), it's time. Cool autumn breezes have shifted into chilly winter evenings. And after the snow falls and melts, it's time for spring. And when the flowers are in full blossom, we are blessed to experience warm summer days. When those warm summer days grow too long, autumn arrives and brings us its own unique beauty.
There is a time and a season for every aspect of life. Thank goodness our Heavenly Father prepares us for each one.
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