All things have their season, and in their times all things pass under 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. A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to destroy, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather. A time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.
Ecc. 3:1-5
As I watch the world around me progress from the green, lush atmosphere of summer to the golden, chilly feel of autumn, this verse strikes me as an excellent lesson, for my generation in particular. Most of us millennials have spent our entire lives trying to hold on to things, trying to make things last. We wanted everything to be instant and easily available at the click of a button, but we quickly realized that the price of instant gratification is that it only lasts for that instant.
As we scramble about attempting to hold on to everything for as long as possible, this verse teaches us the beauty and peace to be found in letting go and accepting what we have in the time we are in. The moment you realize something will not last forever, you appreciate it and are able to truly love it. G.K. Chesterton said "The way to love anything is to realize it may be lost", expressing the same idea. When we realize the thing we love is temporary, and accept it, we can love it as it is meant to be loved. All things fade away but God, Who alone is eternal, and the sooner we learn to accept this, the closer we are to achieving happiness. The temporary nature of everything around us makes us love and adore the eternal nature of the God who created us. This season of autumn is nature's way of illustrating this lesson to us; the sadness of summer's death is overcome by the beauty of the new season. We miss the warmth of summer, of course, but it only makes us appreciate the days we were able to spend in it even more. Without the chill and death of autumn and winter, we would not have the sunshine and new life of spring and summer.
In the same way, we have to learn to love and let go in each season of our lives. We spend so many thousands of dollars trying to remain "young" and pretend we're still the carefree children we used to be that we don't even notice our adult years slipping away from us. We waste our single years away dreaming and planning for marriage, and miss so many golden opportunities for growth and development as individuals. When we realize each part of our life is a unique season, with the days already numbered before our birth, we can love and put it to the best use possible. There is a delicate balance required for happiness and peace in our lives; we must neither try to go back to a past season nor try to skip our current one for one we have not arrived in yet. Life should not be a frozen image, but it also should not be blur; God has created a beautiful world and given each of us a life to live to the fullest before joining Him in heaven for eternity. His laws for our lives are designed to make us the happiest we can be and make our lives the best we can live, and to spend precious time trying to keep living the same moment forever or skipping the one we are currently in is a waste. If we don't allow ourselves to let go, of both the good and the bad, it will hold us back and prevent us from growing into the person we were destined to be.
To conclude, when a season of your life ends (whether it be a state of life, a relationship, a job, etc.), don't try to hold on to it or bring it back; be grateful you were able to experience it, and then look forward to the next one. If you are unhappy in the season you are currently placed in, use your talents and efforts to transform it into the best, most productive part of your life you can live at this time. By focusing on the moment you are living instead of a future or past one, you rid yourself of worry and anxiety and can be the person you were created to be.
Thank you, Jacinta!
Very true!! Thanks for the wisdom Maddi! ;)
My pleasure, dear! :)
Thank you, Sophia!
Such a wonderful and relatable post, Maddi! Thank you, I needed to hear this; right now in particular. Keep up the fantastic work! 💖