Contentment and New Seasons

This  morning we wrapped up the Moms Connect group I participate in for the school year. This is an amazing group that I have done for the past 3 years (it used to be a MOPS group), and it is always such a time of encouragement to get to leave my kids in their classrooms (which they both love) and have time to talk and laugh and be in Scripture with other mamas. Our session this morning was on contentment and it brought to mind many thoughts...

As we are drawing nearer into the new season of summer I find my contentment both high AND low. How is that possible??? I feel very content with where my life with Ryan and the kids have been for the past semester. We have been in a good rhythm of time doing homeschool, Eva going to preschool, our mornings at Moms Connect, a balance of family time with ministry, getting date nights because of awesome grandparents, and enjoying the outdoors a ton because of good weather. After some time of struggling with "Should I work?" (no.) "Should I get more involved in children's ministry?" (YES!), "Should I homeschool forever or send the kids to public school?" (quite worrying ahead of time), I finally feel such a peace that I am doing what I need to be doing for now. There are always days where you get gray hairs and wonder if what you're doing is right. Hard is okay and doesn't mean that you aren't doing what you are supposed to be doing. I am living my dream! I feel joy in where my life is.

And then I look at summer. All of the sudden I feel those yucky feelings of discontentment again. I don't WANT our routine to change. I like things the way they are going. It's going to get hot, and summer tends to be a busy time for Ryan. What am I going to do my children all day, every day? Our normal routines seem to suddenly have big gaping whole in them.

Then I return to the Lord and I am reminded to take each day at a time. I don't need to worry about August when it is May 19th. I can just think about May 19th (or maybe May 20th). I can feel peace knowing that I will still get time with my kids, which is absolutely what I want, and not to worry about how we will fill each day. I can trust in the Lord's daily supply of grace. I can look expectantly towards the FUN things that summer brings - pool time, play dates, summer nights - and to be thankful for the new memories we will create.

I read this morning from 1 Corinthians 13:12 "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I will know fully, even as I am fully known." This verse is primarily talking about Heaven and our eternal relationship with Jesus. But I can see also how it applies towards looking into new seasons. I don't know what the next few months for us will hold, but instead of being anxious or discontent, I can believe that God is good, and that there is a time for everything in it's season. Two years ago I wasn't sure what summer would look like and then (surprise!) we bought a house and (surprise!) we got pregnant with Jensen. Umm, I'm not planning anything THAT huge for this summer...the point is that it is hard to know going into each season what JOY and ADVENTURE it will hold.

So whether you are like me, feeling unsure about summer, or you can't wait for your older babies to finally be around more, trust God. Thank God. Live in contentment with wherever the next season takes you.