How do you embrace the season you’re living in?
I love being a mother. For the past eighteen years and some months, I’ve worn that title as a shawl wrapped around my shoulders. It’s woven into my heart. And though mothering is full of seasons, I believe one of the most demanding happens in the time when our children live in our homes. It took a long time for the gift of motherhood to come into my life and fill my heart and consume my thoughts.
But when God gave us our two bundles in His perfect timing, I embraced the role, the responsibilities, the hard work with intentionality. I wanted to be the best mom I could to the two sons God gave us. I thought about the day that seemed so far away . . . the day they would don a robe and square-topped cap and tassel.
And we’re here.
Our oldest walks that aisle in a few short weeks to receive his high school diploma. And it feels like everything is about to change.
Yet, that’s part of what mothering is about . . . equipping these children to one day discover and fulfill the call God placed on their lives. Being at the end of this part of the mothering journey has wreaked a bit of havoc with my heart. I find I must be purposeful to embrace the season of letting go.
We see our children’s strengths and struggles, perhaps better than almost anyone. And yet, it’s not our job to fix it all. Our children will leave our house with undone facets of their lives. As hard as Hubs and I have tried to prepare our sons for adulthood—as much as we poured into their characters—they both have issues that only God can address.
As Our Seasons Change
Thank goodness our Father knows our children better than we do. And He loves them more deeply than we’re capable of loving them. He sees their frailties and knows how to strengthen them.
Perspective: 5 Ways to Embrace the Season We Live In—Thank goodness our Father knows our children better than we do. And He loves them more deeply than we’re capable of loving them. #TellHisStory #perspective #mothering Click To Tweet
My role as their mom becomes one of supporting from the sidelines. Not that I won’t be involved in their lives, but that’s the thing . . . this is their life, not mine to live through them.
I’ve loved every season of mothering . . . those newborn days when they cuddled close into me. The toddler years where they discovered the word, “No!” And so much more. The elementary years where they fell in love with reading and learning. And the awkward junior high years as they began to discover more of who they are. High school years where we’ve begun to talk about bigger concepts, where testing has happened, and conversations have been deeper.
How Do We Embrace The Season We’re in
Look Beyond the Hard Moments
Look beyond the hard moments to the overall picture of that chapter. We’ve definitely endured some tough times in the teen years. But having a front-row seat as our boy-men discover their likes, dislikes, passions, and beliefs has been amazing.
Ask for God’s Perspective
When we’re having a difficult time in a season, sometimes it helps to ask God to give us His perspective, to help us see what’s going on through His eyes. When we can view even the hard times through His lens, we’re better able to walk through them.
Prayer
More and more, prayer has become my go-to. When life overwhelms and everything seems to be going haywire simultaneously, prayer is our stabilizer. Writing it out. Putting words to the overwhelm and lifting them to the One who has the answers helps us get through the tough times, and to later see the value of walking through that season.
Live Into Each Moment
One thing I’ve loved is when one of the boys comes and sits in the wingback chair in my project room. They’re offering an unspoken invitation to turn from what I’m doing and give them my full attention. I’ve never once regretted pausing in an email or writing to be fully present with one of our boys.
Find Things You’re Grateful For
Find things you’re grateful for in the middle of the season you’re in. Gratitude sets the heart on a healthy course. Whether things are smooth sailing or your boat is being tossed, gratitude is our anchor for our souls.
Perspective: 5 Ways to Embrace the Season We Live In—Whether things are smooth sailing or your boat is being tossed, gratitude is our anchor for our souls #TellHisStory #perspective #mothering Click To Tweet
With our next season looming, I need God’s grace to help me let go so we can finish this phase well. We aren’t saying goodbye to our relationship. Rather, we are on the cusp of a new beginning. Roles will be redefined, but love will still guide.
I’m excited to see what God will write on the blank pages of our son’s next chapter. I look forward to embracing whatever comes next for him.
What about you? How do you embrace the season you’re walking in? What helps you keep a good perspective when you hit rough places? What would you add to this list?
***With Peter’s graduation almost here, I’ll be taking the rest of the month off to prepare for and to celebrate our son. I’ll see you back here June 1st!
***I’m having computer issues which have kept me from preparing a post for this week. I am so sorry! I’ll be back June 8th with the Tell His Story linkup. I am so looking forward to connecting with you all again! Please forgive the inconvenience!!
Most weeks, I link up with Grace and Truth, Anita Ojeda, Instaencouragements, and sometimes Let’s Have Coffee. Come join and read more encouraging posts!
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters. I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leaving your own encouragement. Click here to read more about the #TellHisStory community and find a button to add to your site.
What a day of bittersweet celebration as your son walks across the stage to hold his diploma! I understand those feelings well.
Your post is an encouragement to me today as I watch loved ones walk through the hard things. Thank you, friend.
Peace and grace,
Tammy
Yes, Tammy. I think it probably will be somewhat bittersweet, but mostly he’ll be super excited. And I’ll try not to cry . . . too much. I’m sorry you have loved ones walking through hard things. I’m glad you found encouragement in these words, my friend.
What a great post, Jeanne! I, especially, like the reminder that gratitude is the anchor of our souls. That’s true in every season. Blessings!
Donna, especially in the hard seasons, I need to remember gratitude is the anchor of my soul. You’re right; this is true in every season. Thank you so much for visiting!
Congrats on your son’s graduation! I can’t even imagine that day! It will happen in about three years for me and my boy! Have fun this month!
Amy, the day sneaks up on a mama. Enjoy these years with your boy. They really do FLY by. 🙂
What a handsome young man! Congratulations to him for his upcoming graduation and for you, Mom, for all your wise mothering! You’re right, though, it is a time of big change, but I think you’ve hit on some of the most important ways to weather and thrive together through those changes!
Thanks for your kind words, Kathy! I’ll pass on your congratulations. I appreciate your encouragement!
Aw, Jeanne … replace “boys” in your post with “girls” and you could have written this for me last year. 🙂 I was nodding along with every paragraph … until I got to the part about the wingback chair in your project room, and then I may have had a little trouble reading along due to the tears in my eyes. Your boys are blessed to have you as their mom, my friend.
Lois, your girls are so fortunate to have you and Randy as their parents. You both have been intentional with them, and you’ve nurtured relationship, which is huge. Thanks for your kind words, friend.
Those days come sooner than later, I also have a son graduating from high school in less than to weeks. Congrats to your son. This hit my eye: “Our children will leave our house with undone facets of their lives.” Yes, no matter how much we teach and preach. Just like we left home with undone facets. But thankfully, I see my kids leaving home with less undone in their lives, than I did. One way I embrace the season is to live in and enjoy the current moments.
Theresa, congrats to your son, as well! We each aspire to send our kids into the world as well prepared as possible, don’t we? I am so with you on enjoying the current moments, friend.
I wish I could say I’ve loved every season of motherhood. This current one is hard. But your words are encouraging. Thank you.
Lauren, I so appreciate your honesty. I should probably have said I’ve found things I’ve loved in each phase of mothering. We’re definitely hitting some hard days in our current season as well. I’m saying a prayer for you.
Thank you for this encouragement. Have a blessed week! 🙂
Thanks, Melissa! I hope your week is a blessed one, also!
One of my favorite things is hanging out with my adult children – they are lovely people!
The other side, the next season and stage are worthwhile with its bumps!
Nylse, your comment is so encouraging. It gives me something to look forward to, bumps included. 🙂
A very touching post, Jeanne, each season of motherhood offers rich rewards. I always tell young mothers not to be in such a hurry for their children to grow up! It all goes by so fast. I like the way you took a slow walk through each phase. Congratulations on your son’s graduation, enjoy every moment of this season!
Thank you, Donna. I agree with your counsel. I was never in a big hurry for our kids to grow up. I’ve told moms, “The days feel slow, but the years FLY by.” and it’s true. We don’t get those days and years back, so we need to cherish them in the moment.
Oh what a fabulous milestone! I am so happy for your family, Jeanne … enjoy every second away from being online. You know we’ll all be here when you get back.
Party hardy.
Thank you, Linda. We’re hoping to have some family come in, and that will make the celebrating even sweeter. I so appreciate you, friend!
Congratulations to your son on his graduation! It IS exciting (and a little scary) to see them begin to leave the nest. When my oldest went away to college, I cried the whole way home when we dropped him off. I did the same when it came time to take the 2 younger boys to college for the first time too. Finding things to be grateful for is a good way to ease the transition.
Thanks, Laurie! I’ll pass on your congratulations. I imagine some tears will be shed over the coming months. 🙂 I appreciate the suggestion to find those things to be grateful for. I’ll be doing that!
Part of the job of mothers is to prepare our children to be productive godly adults. Despite my best efforts to the contrary my offspring have become amazing adults. My baby girl is graduating college in a few short days. Ahh…where did the time go!
God’s grace & mercy on you my friend.
Barbara, it must be gratifying to see the people your children have become. I guess that will be our next milestone . . . graduation from college. The time does fly by, doesn’t it?
Yes it does
Beautiful photos Jeanne! I know your heart is full as you enter more fully into this hands-off and hands-up season! I remember thinking about how forever far away high school graduation seemed for him – and then in 2019 it came. Our oldest is turning 35 – a lot of years being hands on. You write: “it’s not our job to fix it all.” – and that is beautiful liberation in many ways – but only liberation with trust in God. Savor, embrace and tuck these moments deep in your heart the next few weeks! Such a sweet time!
Thanks for your kind words, Maryleigh. “Hands off and hands up.” Yes indeed, that describes the stage I (we) are entering into. Thanks for your exhortation to savor each moment!
Love how you are learning and leaning into this ever changing season!
Thank you, my friend!
Congratulations on your son’s graduation! Have a wonderful June preparing and celebrating. For the troublesome times raising children, I said to myself “this shall pass” and “it will get better” and both of these statements did come true! I know I’ll need them again as life is like that with it’s ebbs and flows.
Thank you, Lynn! I appreciate the reminder that, “this, too, shall pass.” Goodness knows I have needed that reminder a few times over the past couple months! Thanks for sharing your perspective from a bit further down the road.
With cancer, now, I live the dream
and see into Forever,
but some cats just don’t dig the scene,
and tell me, “Yeah, whatever.”
They think I’m kinda down on brain,
some cans short of a six-pack,
and dude, that really jerks my chain,
’cause even if I lack
the stuff upstairs that makes ’em tick,
I still have what I got,
and if my groovin’ makes ’em sick,
well, I’m really not
gonna argue, gonna fight,
’cause life right now is outta sight!
Andrew, I’ve not known you to care too much about what others think. It’s one of the things I appreciate about you, my friend. I’m so glad you have a perspective that’s bringing you through your most difficult of seasons.
Your story strums the heart strings.
Awww, thanks, Deb.
Aww! It’s so exciting to see our littles leave the nest! But who am I kidding? I wasn’t prepared at all and had a rough couple of weeks of moping and pouting 😆. It’s one of those odd celebrations where you can’t decide between laughing and crying. I’ll be praying for you as Peter makes the transition.
Anita, it is exciting. I’ve been reading a book about the empty nest, and it’s been really helpful to read other parents’ lessons and experiences; they’re helping shape my understanding as it pertains to our son. Thank you for those prayers, my friend. I’ll take ’em!
Oh, I get all the feels again when I read your words, reflecting back on when my oldest graduated. It did change things. It opened up new opportunities not only for her, but for me, too. That caught me by surprise. I know you’ll find beautiful things in the changes too, Jeanne, even when they’re wrapped in challenges. Congratulations to you and to Peter!
Awww, Lisa. I know things are going to change. In some ways, I’m ready for some of the changes that will come in our relationship. I’ll be looking for the beautiful things you mentioned. 🙂 Thanks for reminding me that challenges also often hold some beauty.
Jeanne, I love this post. You have a way with words and this piece and its decriptive phrases about motherhood moved my heart. I particularly relish in how you expressed to be present in our children’s lives, even it that means pausing from a task, email, writing, cleaning, and so on. Congratulations to your son on his upcoming graduation. I pray it’s a celebration for son and mom and family.
Karen, thank you for your encouraging words. I’ll pass on your congratulations to our Peter.
Graduation Congratulations to your son. And so, a new chapter begins. Blessings.
Thank you, Paula!
This phase of life can be emotional, but it’s exciting to see them take their first steps toward adulthood. Though I miss the little boys ours used to be, I treasure our adult relationships. I leaned on prayer, grace, and time through the transition years.
Yes, Barbara, it is exciting to watch them take those first steps toward adulthood. There are times when I miss the young version of each of them. But, I love the way we can laugh and talk now in ways we never could when they were younger. I want to treasure each phase with them.Yes to leaning on prayer and grace through these years!!
Very encouraging post. I’m working on mindset, and this post is so good for that.
Priya, I’m so glad you found this post helpful! I appreciate you stopping by!