Two things have been on my mind for the past few weeks…graduation and preparing for an open house. As Kristen and I have been preparing our home for Brennon’s graduation open house (which, by the way, is May 30 from 3-5 at our house and you’re all invited!), we’ve spent many evenings doing yardwork, cleaning the garage, and checking off long to-do lists. Like many parents this time of year, we’ve found ourselves both exhausted and grateful at the same time.
In the middle of all the preparation one evening, I stepped back to evaluate what I had done to feel some accomplishment and to brag about it to Kristen. As I leaned on my shovel and wiped away the sweat from my dirty face I was reminded how much of life is lived in seasons. Scripture tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.”
It hardly seems possible that the little boy I once chased through the yard is now stepping into adulthood and a new beginning. As parents, we spend years preparing our children for life…teaching, correcting, encouraging, praying, and trusting God with every stage along the way.
Preparing our home for visitors has also reminded me of another important truth: God is always interested in preparing hearts. While we’ve been clearing clutter from the garage, landscaping and cleaning up the yard (which is why you’ve noticed the dumpster at the house), the Lord has gently reminded me to allow Him to keep working in my own heart as well.
Am I alone in feeling like sometimes busyness of life can crowd out gratitude, peace, and time with the Lord? Yet even in ordinary tasks like mowing the lawn, landscaping, moving rocks, setting up tables, etc., I have been reminded that God can speak to us and remind us of His faithfulness in and through every season. This graduation season is not just a celebration of achievement, but also a reminder that God guides each new chapter of life. As Brennon prepares for what comes next, Kristen and I are reminded that the greatest thing we can do as parents is continue to pray for him, encourage him, and trust the Lord with his future, and our new season as well.
Perhaps many of you are in similar seasons…we saw a couple weeks ago all those celebrating graduations, this is also wedding season, many others are celebrating new beginnings, or other milestones of some sort. May we all remember that, while we prepare for new beginnings, God is also faithfully preparing us for what lies ahead and through every season, He remains faithful.
I loved this. My sister and I were just talking today how busyness keeps us from Jesus. We don’t have the time for him. So it fit in so good with what you said
Great message and reminder!