Take a look at the tree outside; what do you see?” I asked my trio as they clustered around my reading table.
“Trees, with no leaves.”
“They are bare.”
“And looks dry.”
These were the different responses from my trio.
“I love to say it is naked,” I surmised with a smile. ‘Naked Trees’ was a poem taught in primary school that has stuck with me ever since. This poem reminded us of the dry and humid season called harmattan in Nigeria (read about it here).
With eyes still on the tree, I continued,
“Do you remember how flourishing it looked last summer?”
“Yes! It was full of green leaves,”
my youngest responded, with a twinkle in his eyes.
Those trees should be your constant reminder that life is in seasons and that God will always be faithful through each one.
The truth is, I have stared at that same tree daily for the last two years, watching it transform through each season as it directly faces my reading and working desk. It has been my soothing presence as I tackle challenging assignments, develop ideas and strategies, blog or even when I feel overwhelmed by the demands of the season I am in or worry over the fleeting issues of life.
Spring, summer, autumn, and Winter—these trees have stood as my with each season, giving it a new look. They constantly remind me that no season is static and that each life season heralds the next: spring leads to summer, autumn, and Winter. They all must occur for the beauty of nature to continue. It is the same with the various seasons in our lives; each one is necessary to build us holistically, from the depth of character and strength to reminding us of the importance of “process”.
As I write this, I am reminded of the four seasons in a woman’s life that Binta Max-G shared with us in Trendy Mum Talks Session 4 and why we should make the most of each season (listen here).
Your life in the different seasons may seem complicated, tiring, or even uneventful, but do remember these three things:
- Life is in seasons.
- Each season eventually comes to an end.
- God is always faithful.
Whether you are nurturing a pregnancy, nursing a newborn, battling with a toddler, managing your teens or housemates, as I choose to call them, caring for a loved one or an empty-nester, the demands of juggling all with work and the demands of other roles can often be overwhelming.
Remember, we all share one fundamental truth: life is made up of seasons, each fleeting. So, enjoy the process without fixating on the end goal. Cherish the moments, create lasting memories, and understand that you are entrusted with raising a generation (children) and impacting our sphere, so live intentionally.
As you navigate the myriad responsibilities life has placed on you as a working mother, pause and think about your life’s journey so far; like the trees by my window, understand that what we all need to thrive and flourish through each season has already been placed inside us. Draw from it to grow.
