Reason, Season, Lifetime

You know that poem that was written about how people come into your life for a Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime? It basically says that some people come into your life for a Reason, to help you through a difficult time, to give you guidance or assistance, etc. Some people come into your life for a Season. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season. And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall, the season eventually ends. Lifetime relationships teach you lifetime lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person anyway, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas in your life.

Do you ever think of those friends who came into your life for a season? Those friends who you thought were lifetime friends, when in reality, it was convenient to be their friend at that point in your life? I think former coworkers fit into that area. I have several former coworkers who, at the time, were some of my very best friends. One was even a bridesmaid in our wedding! I never thought that those friends wouldn’t be a part of my life. But then life changes – people move away, they start families, they change jobs, and the friendship that was so important at the time fades into the background. It takes a lot of effort to keep a friendship going when the people involved have changed and have different priorities.

I have been blessed with a group of friends in my life right now who are extra special! I’ve gotten to know all of them through my kids. They all have kids around the same age and the kids all go to school together. Since it’s a Catholic school, by default we all go to church together too. I sometimes wonder if these friends are “season” friends too. Will these friends still be my friends years from now when our kids are out of elementary or even high school? I find that some of the friendships are starting to change already. Our son is 12 and in 7th grade. A few of his friends have moved to new schools and because of that, we don’t see the parents as much. After 8th grade, all of the kids will move to high school – some to our local public high school and some to private Catholic high schools. Some of our son’s friends are the youngest in the family, so the family won’t be at our school anymore. This makes me sooooo sad. When I think about these friends and the possibility that they won’t always be my friends, I cringe! I want all of these special people to be Lifetime friends. But in reality, I know that isn’t going to happen. Just like the coworkers and other friends from the past, I know that for some of these friendships, the season will end.