Embracing Life’s Winter

I’m grateful to no longer live in the land of always winter – that was my home state of Michigan. (At least that’s how it often seemed!) Always winter, but with Christmas! I much prefer southern Italy, where winters are mild and rare snow quickly melts. Only in our distant mountains does it last all winter.

I do not like winter, you see. Spring’s my favorite season. I love the new life and fresh start. All my favorite movies, in fact, are about new beginnings with a chance to try again. (Especially old Disney movies!) Perhaps because I have so often needed new beginnings in my own life. But I don’t like winter, snow, or cold – except in movies!

But winter has come

To my surprise winter has come to me. It did come as a surprise, strange though it may seem! 🙄 I guess I thought either fall was eternal, or that winter started at age 70. But not at 60! Not too logical considering the average lifespan. But that’s what I thought! (Math and numbers are not my strong points.) 😉

I admit that it astounded me to discover that since I’m in my 60s, I’m now in my winter. My least favorite season of all!

I’ve been reading a lot lately about life’s seasons. Because I notice that as the years pass, life and time seem to slip through our fingers ever more quickly.

Finding the beauty in all life’s seasons

According to Aristotle, unpleasantness can help us see beauty. Life is often like that. Even in the midst of unpleasant things, we can find beauty.

Like winter. We may dread the cold and snow, and ever more colds and the flu. Yet winter is beautiful in its own way. The wonder and beauty of snowflakes. Christmas carols. Steaming cups of herbal tea and evenings by the fire. Beauty mixed with unpleasantness.

Embrace all seasons

God wants us to embrace all of life. The wanted with the unwanted, the good with the bad. And to accept every season of life including winter, even with wrinkles and old age.

Not that I mind getting old. (Good thing – since it’s inevitable!) But I do mind that LIFE is slipping through my fingers. The years I can spend with family and friends are diminishing. Time is running out to create memories. To touch the lives of others. I do mind those things.

Yet winter also brings us closer to eternity. Where nothing will ever slip through our fingers again. Where we will never have to embrace the unwanted. And best of all, we’ll finally see our Savior face to face.

And then I found a quote which holds a key to understanding the beauty of life’s winter.

Of winter’s lifeless world each tree
Now seems a perfect part;
Yet each one holds summer’s secret
Deep down within its heart.

Charles G. Slater

Springtime and summer are life’s seasons of wonder, everything fresh and new. The whole world to discover and explore. It’s when we become who we are – and hopefully who we should be in Christ. Each passing season adds another layer to our lives.

Winter is a bit dead and lifeless. Yet it holds the seeds of all our past springs and summers somewhere in its depths. And our lifeless trees will one day spring to life again.

In our own life’s winter we find life slipping away, and it can seem nothing but a season of loss.

But I’ve come to see that it can be a season of abundant fruitfulness. All the lessons and memories of our past can work to turn our winter into a season of hope, joy, and dignity. To create a life well lived. One that leaves behind a worthy legacy when the last snowflake falls.

So let’s keep the richness of spring and summer ever alive in our hearts. While also embracing winter and whatever it blows in, appreciating all that comes our way. For beauty can be found in everything, even cold and snow!

To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold. (Aristotle)

Tweet

Images: View from our back yard by SignorMario. Emojis from Emojipedia | Dandelion by HG-Fotografie | Woman blowing snow by Pexels | Tree branch by Chris Szocol.