Our Master-Planned, Changeable Lives

I’m seeing commercials and promos that talk about pumpkin spice candles and coffee, falling in love with fall and promos about the exciting new fall clothes colors. It hit me. Fall has literally sprung up on us. School is back in session and college teams' fans are out in numbers as they sport their favorite team shirts and colors. Soon the leaves will be changing colors. I’ve changed out some of my summer wardrobe for my fall/winter ones – even though we’re still having scorching hot summer days. I also took down my spring/fall home décor. Bring on fall -- my favorite time of the year! I'm ready for change!

I get amused at the FB posts bearing photos of their little ones and mamas crying out to their children: “Stop growing so fast. Don’t get any older!” I know they really don’t mean those words because how awful would it be for our children to stop growing and not getting older but staying as their little baby selves! But I get those mamas, because they are witnessing “time flying” right before their eyes.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1, King Solomon wrote, “There is a time for everything, and everything on earth has its special season.” Many of us would be much more comfortable if everything stayed the same; yet it doesn’t. Everything has its seasons. Though we may like the seasons changing in nature, we may get frightened about the seasons changing in our lives. We grip so tightly to the present that it becomes traumatic when things change. Change can be difficult, but not so if we know God’s divine purposes are being fulfilled. God does have a purpose and a season for everything and right now each of us is in one of His seasons. It’s not about the seasons changing. It's about seeing God in the seasons.

Master Planned Communities are everywhere. The developer master-plans a clubhouse, pool, the number of homes, streets, curbs and amenities. I live in one like that. Well, we have the Master Developer and Planner...who is perfectly Master-planning our lives, the seasons we go through. He plans them with our ultimate success in mind. Isn't it time we relax and enjoy each season of our lives.....both in the climate, and in the transitions we go through? And, for goodness sake, mamas and papas, STOP wishing your babies to stop growing. It’s a part of the Master’s Plan to grow them into strong, self-sufficient and God-sufficient human beings that will change our world for good. Trust the Man with the Plan for your good!

Seasons Change PURPOSEFULLY

Day 134 of Photo Inspirations -- Seasons Change PURPOSEFULLY

My photo inspirations today come as a result of spending time recently with my sweet cousin and her husband, Mary Ellen & Charles Snow. They are starting a new chapter in their "life book" -- from their Tulsa "roots", where Charles served in ORU's Faculty of Theology & Ministry for over 25 years, as well as serving on staff with David Wilkerson's ministry and then pastoring in Fort Worth, TX.  They're heading back to Texas, where Mary Ellen and I both grew up.  She and my sister were "besties" back in their high school and college days.

As Mary Ellen walked me through their beautiful home in Tulsa, Charles was going through and cleaning out his desk.  He said, "40 years of collections in there!"  They are packing for their move and all the excess will be in an estate sale in a couple of weeks.  That beautiful mandolin up on a shelf WILL go with them.  Too many sweet memories attached to the mandolin that Charles played with a musical group.

It's not easy handling transitions of this magnitude.  Saying "good bye" to friends that are here, as well as so many treasures that they've collected from their ministry travels abroad.  But, they know it's time.  They know their seasons have changed.  I reminded them of what I told others that we held estate sales for.  "You were blessed to have such beautiful treasures for so many years.  You made lots of memories with those treasures.  But now, it's time to 'pay those treasures and memories' forward.  Now others will be able to cherish those treasures and make memories of their own".

I love this couple so much for how they've given their lives to serving God and leading many people to Him, but I love them because they're family.  Mary Ellen is the daughter of my Mom's sister, Shad Ruth.  Aunt Shad was the first one who bought me a pair of slacks.  Oh, what a huge BREAKTHROUGH in my world. LOL!  

As we were walking through their house, Mary Ellen opened the door of a closet and exclaimed, "Oh, Donna.  Would you want this quilt?"  I asked, "Did Grandma make it?"  And she replied, "Either Aunt Lillie Mae or Grandma did!"   I became the recipient of a treasure.  I brought it home and opened the sealed, plastic, zippered bag and there were two twin quilts inside.  And I had a flashback.  For just a period of time, after my Dad had passed away, my Mom lived with my aunt and the two of them slept on the twin beds in her room.  Those are the quilts from those twin beds -- at least 50 years ago.   I am elated to possess such a treasure.  And oh how blessed I am to know that our lives are about seasons, and with each one -- whether in our childhood, youth, married, children and grandchildren, God purposely knows each season.....prepares the way for us to not just survive each one.....but to thrive and flourish in each one.  Yes, Mary Ellen, Charles AND I will continue to thrive and flourish on this side of heaven.....until our new season will be an ETERNAL one!  Accepting the seasons and their changes is part of the Master Plan -- realizing He has our best interests at heart sure makes the journey be even sweeter.