Signora Sheila

I’m thankful that I 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 the rare snow melts quickly. Only in our distant mountains does it last all winter.

I do not like winter, you see. Spring is my favorite season because I love the new life and new beginnings. In fact, all my favorite movies are about new beginnings with a chance to try again. (Especially old Disney movies!) Perhaps because I have needed new beginnings so often 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. And not just the winter weather, but the winter season of my life has come. It really did come as a surprise to me, as strange that may seem! 🙄

I guess I thought that either the fall of life is eternal, or that winter starts at the age of 70. But not at 60! Not very logical considering the average life span. But that’s what I thought! (Math and numbers are not my strong points.) 😉

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

And since I’m in the winter of life, I’ve been reading a lot about life’s seasons. Because I find that as the years go by, life and time seem to slip through our fingers faster and faster.

Finding beauty in all of life’s seasons

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

Like winter. We may dread the cold and the snow, and the increased number of colds and flus. 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 things we want and the things we don’t want, the good with the bad. And He wants us to embrace every season, even winter with its wrinkles and aging.

Not that I mind getting old. (Good thing, because it’s inevitable!) But I do mind that LIFE is slipping through my fingers. The years I might get to to spend with family and friends are slipping away. Time for making memories is running out. I mourn the loss of these things.

But 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 holds 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

Spring 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 are meant to be in Christ. And with each of these another layer is added to our lives.

Winter is a little dead and lifeless. Not much happens, little is new. Yet somewhere in its depths it holds the seeds of all our past springs and summers. And our lifeless trees will one day spring to life again.

In the winter of our own lives, we find life slipping away, and it can seem like a season of great 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 transform 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 alive in our hearts. While also appreciating winter and embracing all that it blows in. For there is beauty in everything, even the cold and the snow!

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

Aristotle

📷 Image credits: dandelion; woman; tree; others are mine