Next Season

There is a tendency to miss the season you're in because you're looking to the next.  The next season always looks better, but there's so much in this season we shouldn't miss.

Whenever I go to an empty-nester's house (whether it be our parents or friends), I'm always amazed at how immaculate their houses are.  My house looks like an F5 tornado made it's way through the den and hallways.  There is always a basketball and bike in the yard.  There are paper airplanes everywhere.  There are cups and water bottles from school lunches all over the counter.  There are legos and nerf gun bullets in the strangest places.  It's because I have four boys 12 and under living in this house.  This is just the way it is.  It's easy to look at those clean houses and think, "Man, that'd be nice."  But those houses don't have little boys (or girls) living in them any more.  And I'll miss these days once they come.

The seasons pass so fast, and we shouldn't be so hurried to get through them to the next one.  The next one will be fine and good, but it will have its own shortcomings, and you'll miss the things about this season you never thought you would.

• Middle schoolers can't wait to get to high school, but find out that high school isn't as care free as it seems.
• High schoolers can't wait to get to college or get a 'real job' but find out college professors and bosses aren't as forgiving as their high school Social Studies teacher was.
• Young adults can't wait to have a baby, but they learn that babies are a lot of work.
• Young parents can't wait for their babies to be able to walk and play, but it doesn't take long to realize they make a lot more messes.
• Parents with kids can't wait for their kids to get a little more responsibility as teenagers, but, you know, then you have teenagers.
• Parents can't wait for their kids to get on their own, but the house seems eerily quiet.
• We can't wait to retire but find that we lose a little purpose sometimes in retirement.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."  If we are always bemoaning the season we are in, we'll miss the beauty of it.  If we are always looking at what's next, we might miss what's now.  

My oldest nephew is graduating high school in a few weeks.  It was just yesterday I was holding him in the hospital.  Just yesterday it seems.  It goes by fast.  Every season.  So enjoy every season.  The next one will be great, but milk today for all its worth.  You never get it back.