If you have followed me for any length of time, you likely know that summer is my favorite season. Yes, I know the heat and humidity can be overbearing at times (especially for someone with curly hair!), but I’ll take it! (Click here to listen to this message.)

To me summer represents calm and carefree living. I appreciate the colors of autumn, and I enjoy the springtime when flowers are in bloom. However, when winter hits, I long to become a snowbird, trading the wrath of the cold, stormy, dark days for sun and blue skies.

Just as the natural seasons come and go, so do the seasons of our lives, and each one has a purpose, even the ones we’d rather skip. If you’re of a certain age, then you’ve seen one or two!”

It’s interesting to look back from time to time and reflect. And if we’re smart, we will give thanks and praise to our Father in heaven who helped us weather each one.

I’m currently in the process of updating my websites and it has caused me to reflect on the various seasons of websites I have had. These updates are not just about a fresh look. They are preparing the way for what God has next for me. (Stay tuned!)

I can recall almost two decades ago when I had my baby gift business, Frittabello® and my website reflected my award-winning baby journal and other gifts. This morphed into my Parenting For Purpose blog website, followed by another site that featured my freelance writing and marketing consulting services.

Each of these seasons had its ups and downs, mistakes and wins, along with lots of lessons learned. And really, isn’t that what life is? One long (hopefully) journey of learning? Getting better?

I look at the lives of the people in the Bible and their respective “seasons” along with their lessons. For example,

• Abraham who went from being a worshipper of the moon and stars to worshipping God.
• Moses who went from being “ascared” to talk and then led millions out of slavery.
• Esther who went from small beginnings as an unknown young girl, to being queen and saving a nation.
• David who went from being an adulterer and an accomplice to murder to being the greatest king ever.
• Peter who went from denying Jesus to preaching the Gospel to thousands.

I literally could go on and on as there are hundreds more like these. Each had a season or two of doubt, fear, hopelessness, helplessness, and frustration. Yet, they all weathered the storms and because of this, we can learn from them and be better.

It would be nice to skip the “winters” of our lives, but it is in these times that we grow and learn, and then hopefully share what we’ve learned with others.

Like everyone else, there are painful seasons in my life that I’d rather not have gone through. Yet without them, I would not be here today knowing what I know, sharing what I’m sharing.

And just as God’s grace got me through those times, He will be with you (John 14:18, Hebrews 13:5). As long as we keep our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), we can handle any and every season, even winter.

This week, I’d like to encourage you to reflect on some of the seasons of your life, consider how you’ve grown, and then give thanks to God for getting you through each one.