As I watch the end of the fall leaf changing season, I have to wrestle with my denial that the summer is over. I find it interesting that every season comes with it’s own clothes, it’s own weather conditions, it’s own highs and lows, it’s own attitude, if you will.
Just as there are clearly defined seasons of “Mother Nature,” there are also clear seasons of marriage. Here are just a few that I have come across:
1. Parenting Season
2. Lonely Season
3. Honeymoon Season
4. Empty Nest Season
5. Challenging Season
6. Passionate Season
7. We Need Space Season
8. Blessed Season
9. Angry Season
10. Mistrust Season
11. Mid-Life Crisis Season
12. Ambitious Career Season
13. Retirement Season
14. Financial Strain Season
15. Financially Blessed Season
I imagine that you can add a few dozen of your own. Some seasons are shorter than others, and as we have recently seen in the Northeast – with a surprise October snowstorm – even when we know what season we are in, we still might find ourselves facing some “unseasonable” weather. But the point is that whatever season your marriage is in, recognize it for what it is and make sure you are dressed for the climate of the season. Just as someone will look strange wearing a turtleneck and leather coat in Texas in August and we won’t get into the white after Labor Day thing, but I think we get the point. We find ourselves out of place, when we fail to recognize what season we are in, in our marriage. For example, if we do something to earn our spouse’s mistrust, then realize that is the season we are in, and “gear up” accordingly.
The strength we gain from realizing the season we are in is the understanding that it is just for a season and not a “forever.” Neither our really good or our really tough seasons last for ever – it’s just for a season. So when you are financially blessed, hold a little cash back – it is just a season. Conversely, when it is raining in your relationship, hold on””it is just for a season.
BMWK family, what season is your marriage in, and how are you preparing for the next season of your marriage?