Feature: Seasons

By Lisa Allen, Publication Specialist at Cross & Crown

Spring is a welcomed sight after a long dreary winter. The trees filled with blooms and bright green tiny leaves look like lace against a blue sky. It will soon be summer. The leaves get bigger and greener and provide shade on a hot sunny day. They are growing strong now, drinking up all the water from the ground. The roots are getting deeper, branches longer and yet flexible. The tree soaks up the sun as much as it does the rainwater that falls to the soil. It becomes a home to birds, squirrels, and even takes on what we consider pests. Bugs, worms in the pecan trees, locusts, woodpeckers, and such enter the environment of the tree. Some trees bear fruit – I’m thankful for those trees.

Then the days become shorter in the fall, the sun sets earlier and the tree does not drink as much water as it begins the end of its life cycle for the year. We enjoyed its splendor all spring and summer while it was at its peak of growth. We had a picnic under the tree, watched birds fly in and out, and it has been a wonderful season of growth and life for us to see. We watched the tree as it swayed through strong hurricane winds and wondered if it would keep standing as the roots lifted from the ground. We watched it flourish on warm days and in afternoon showers.

Fall approaches and shorter days and cooler temperatures begin the process of the tree going dormant. We notice leaves are turning colors. But what a sight we are getting ready to witness, the most magnificent show of color the tree gives us through the four seasons. Some even plan trips around when the trees will show their best colors in our mountains of North Carolina.

As I was driving down our road on a late October day, I was enjoying all the gold, red, pink, and lime colors the leaves were displaying. I thought to myself what a wonderful way for a tree to end its cycle. It goes out with a blaze of color and boldness. It was beautiful in the spring with new growth, strong in the summer as it deepened its roots. Now the tree holds a display of color with leaves dancing delicately to the ground.

God spoke to me as I enjoyed this beautiful show of color. Our lives are full of seasons. We enter as small babies in this world. We soak up the love and nurturing from our loved ones and grow strong. We weather many storms in our lives during our summer. We soak up all that life can give us. We develop strong roots, we grow up, and our lives provide shelter for our very own little birds, our babies. We shelter them in love, just like a tree shelters the birds and squirrels. We provide shade and refuge for our children, family and often friends as well. Some may provide shelter for children they did not give birth, by choosing to love a child in need of a safe nest. It is during this time that we are bearing fruit in our lives. We had pests along the way – our trials. But we are at our strongest season in life. . . the longest season of our lives and the one with the most growth.

It’s great to be in the blooming stage. Growing up molds us into the adults we become and how we go out and serve God and those around us. It’s humbling to be in the strengthening stage, that season can seem long but also beautiful. Fall, it’s time for a glorious show and that is also when you can still make the largest impression in your life cycle. That inspired another thought – so much of our faith involves a tree. The tree in the garden of Eden. Jesus was crucified on a tree. Just the week before He walked in town on palm branches. Jesus talked about faith of a tiny mustard seed and growing in our spiritual journey. Trees are mentioned in scriptures for so many reasons. God gave trees seasons for a reason, and I think we should take notice.

We have graduations occurring now and another generation will experience their summer season. Some will find love and marry and build a nest for a family of their own. The cycle will be repeated. Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 adequately describes all the season we will go through in life. All seasons are beautiful, friends! As Christians we can rejoice knowing that our seasons will never end. Just like a tree will go dormant in winter, we will be called home to be with the Lord. What a glorious eternal spring that will be!