What is the weather like where you are? As I sit here sipping on a cappuccino watching the river ripple by, it’s sixty degrees outside. It’s hard to believe this time last week we were bundled up for freezing temperatures and sledding down the hill. I personally prefer today’s weather. I’m a warm weather girl and I’m eagerly anticipating spring; however, I know today is just a tease. Winter isn’t over yet.
Seasons come and seasons go. You don’t get to pick and choose which ones you want and which you don’t. You have to navigate your way through each one that comes your way, whether you’re talking about the climate or life in general. Some seasons we’re eager to embrace and with others we’re happy to let them take their own sweet time.
I’m about to experience a big change of season in life. My baby girl will graduate soon and go off to college. She has chosen her school, found her roommate and the only thing standing in her way is four months and a graduation ceremony. I could not be happier for her or prouder of her, yet it is with mixed emotions I approach graduation. She will launch out on her own and my husband and I will be empty nesters…. a new season.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says,
There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.”
God blessed us with children to love, pour into and influence so we could release them to do what He prepared for them to do [Ephesians 2:10]. I know just as spring follows winter, this is the next season in life. I have two options as it approaches. I can fight it, missing the blessings that come with it or I can embrace it, and enjoy the ride.
As I said before, I am a fair weather girl. I do not like winter. If you asked me to rank the four seasons in order of preference, winter would hit rock bottom. Yet, when it snowed last week, I chose to embrace winter and enjoy 
what it brought to me. I played in the snow with my family and neighbors, laughing louder than everyone, building snowmen and precious memories.
I could have sulked inside, complaining about the snow and how I hate the cold. I could have moaned and groaned about being trapped in my house with no way out. But I chose to find the blessings in the midst of my least favorite season.
Working in the fight against sex trafficking can be a dark and depressing, if you allow it. There is heartache and wounding at every turn. It seems like every step forward pushes us two steps back some days. On those days I choose to focus on the amazing friends I’ve gained in this fight. I focus on the progress the survivors are making and how I see them going from survivors to thrivers.
I have no idea where you are in life. You may be a new mom, trying to figure out how to do this thing called motherhood. Or you may be a husband/father trying to figure out how to provide for your family and still be available to coach little league and invest in your children. No matter where you are in life, whatever season you’re in at the moment, you’re not helpless. You have a choice. You can choose to focus on the negative and what you don’t have or can’t do or you can choose to mine the gold in that season.
What will you choose?
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