Skip to main content

Embracing The Seasons of Motherhood

Gathering At the Well

Motherhood is a forever constant that is always changing! Once you are a mother, you will forever will have the heart of a mother. There is a love so strong and fierce ignited in the heart that commands our emotions and actions. There is a compassion, care and tenderness that may never have surfaced until the children came along. Motherhood is one of the greatest responsibilities and God given assignments we will ever have. But also, motherhood comes with abundant joy and unspeakable blessings. God's Word tells us that children are a blessing from the Lord.

But just as the children grow so quickly and change, motherhood comes with it's own growth changes. For every mom, there are "seasons of motherhood" and they are always changing.

SPRING:

Spring is the season of new life. Beauty is everywhere and it is a time to bask in the new flower buds, blooms and pure beauty of this season. For a mother, spring may be the time when the babies arrive. Excitement abounds with this new life and a mother embraces each new milestone as a thing of beauty and amazement. Most time is spent gazing, observing, learning and enjoying this new creation and beholding the joy they bring into the home. Motherhood may be a brand new walk of life and a time of constant learning.

SUMMER:

When summer comes around, things are in full bloom and vibrant. Each day is to be savored and enjoyed as there is so much to see and do. For a mother, this may be the season of a school age child and can be filled with action and adventure. This is a very busy season for mom, much teaching and action is poured into the child and the child may now be old enough to seek and enjoy new adventures and opportunities. Action abounds in this season and the children may learn what they like and want to be a part of. Mom is usually the one to provide those opportunities and the encouragement to pursue their gifts and talents.

AUTUMN:

When summer fades, autumn comes alive with a splendor and beauty all it's own that naturally unfolds. It is a time of change and can sometimes be more scheduled than summer with all of it's freedoms. It is a different season but one with a glory all it's own. For a mother, the autumn season may be when the child moves toward adulthood. The busy days of teaching and doing for the child are nearing the end. Although a mother can always offer guidance, comfort and advice, this may be a time when the child must make his own choices out of a heart of wisdom, not just because he was told to. Now is the time for the child to begin making his own decisions and plans for adulthood. It can be a time to "buckle down" and get serious about the future. It can be a time or season of beauty as the child's own personality is formed and beheld.

WINTER:

Winter is also a splendid season where not much activity is going on, but it has an aura all it's own. It may appear things are lifeless, but is there anything greater than a cozy fire, warm drink and a good book on a cold winter's day? Winter hosts the Christmas season, which is a season filled with past memories, traditions and a peace and joy all it's own. Winter also hosts the New Year. In a mother's heart, it may be easy to assume that winter means mothering is done. Surely not. Although the children may not be near with their presence, their hearts are filled with the cozy memories that have been made through the other seasons. And what greater joy than to visit and relive the warmth of a mother's love and care? There is comfort in knowing that a mother is always near and ready with a listening ear, wisdom and advice. Although a mother may not be needed in day to day actions, her love and presence are still needed as a protective and familiar wrap of love, comfort, strength and encouragment. The mother may not do as much action during this season, but may be a fortress of prayer for the family. What a powerful season! Then as in winter a New Year comes along with the rotations of seasons, a mother may enter the joyous season as a grandmother! Then rotate the seasons again with a little more wisdom and a lot more fun!

Since my children are spaced out a little bit, I consider myself a summer and autumn mom. Entering the autumn season is a challenge for me in the fact that I need to let go some and allow my sons the freedom to make some of their own decisions and learn the basics of life through actions and consequences. Many times it is through mistakes that we learn and do better. Moms want to shield their children from all harm and hurt, but it may be through the hard times that character is formed.

Regardless of the season of motherhood, there is beauty and joy in every moment. The longer we are a mother, the more we learn and grow in wisdom. Sometimes it seems the older the children get, the easier are physical actions are and the more challenging the emotional issues are (teenagers anyone??!!). That is a great reason to grow in each season and keep looking forward to embrace the new season with excitement and hope.

Above all, may we seek the Lord who is the giver and sustainer of all. If we are rooted in Him, we can draw from Him and be fruitful and flourish in each season of life and motherhood.

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. Psalms 1:3




Labels:

Comments

  1. Ashley WellsOctober 19, 2009 at 2:37 PM

    Great thoughts Joyce, thanks for joining in the discussion!

    -Ashley

    ReplyDelete
  2. annies homeOctober 19, 2009 at 3:13 PM

    thanks for sharing your wonderful thoughts on this subject you wrote a wonderful post

    ReplyDelete
  3. DebbieOctober 19, 2009 at 7:51 PM

    This was a GREAT post. I loved the way you described motherhood with the various different seasons. It was both creative and very accurate I think. My children are all married and moved on and I have entered a new phase. That of a grandmother!! What a glorious season this is....Blessings to you, Debbie

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thank you for sharing your commment. It is a joy and blessing to hear from you and your words are appreciated.

Popular posts from this blog

Sometimes We Score, Sometimes We Block

Our family is in the midst of little league soccer season. My youngest son is playing and his enthusiasm is contagious. He is pretty good at the sport, but what makes it so great is that he loves it! He counts the days until the next game or practice. He loves his coach and teammates. He has moved up an age level this year and the players are working more like team, passing to each other and watching out for each other during play. During the last game, my son scored two goals, they were the only goals of the game. In today's game the team scored eight goals. My son came up afterwards to me and said, "I didn't score today, but I blocked". What a powerful truth those words can hold. In life, sometimes we score, sometimes we block. Sometimes we do great things, we excel, we achieve, we meet our goal - we score! There are also times we see the needs of others, sometimes they are sad or hurting, we block their hits. We look out for them so they can score. We
17 comments
Read more

Relationships and Redemption

In every friendship or relationship, there is a common hope that they will grow and flourish. There is something inside of us that longs for a 'happy every after' story. We dream about it and work to make that happen. But in reality, relationships are a challenge. The bridging of values, lifestyles, interests and sacrificing for another are simply hard things to do! No matter how much we dream of the perfect fit, some relationships will not endure the stress.  When differences appear and tensions arise, prayer can change situations, attitudes and ourselves. For the Christian, we know God can transform, change, heal. We cannot change others, but prayer opens us the door for God to step in and answer. God desires transformation, but does not demand it. The gift of free will allows us to choose to say Yes or No to Him.  Romans 12:18 says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Take notice of the first two words: “If possible …” This implies that some
Post a Comment
Read more

A Blank Page - A Great Way to Fill It

A blank page - that is the first view of a new blog post. It has been a while since I have faced the blank page of my little blog! A blank page can bring a variety of emotions - emptiness, anxiety, pressure to perform or emotions such as inspiration, encouragement or simply bursting to share something. But there is always something fresh and exciting about the blank page of a New Year. Happy 2023! This is always a time in my life where inspiration and plans are formed and ready to be implemented for greater change. Aspirations may start strong, but alone do not make a difference. It takes consistency to create change. The changing or adding small habits is a key to great changes. A habit that has been beneficial in my life for many years is rising early. It began when the children were small and was the only pocket of time I had to myself. Through the years, mornings have become my favorite time of the day. Now that my husband and I are empty nesters, we go to bed early and rise early.
Post a Comment
Read more