A Season

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 

a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 

a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; 

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; 

a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; 

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; 

a time for war, and a time for peace." 

-Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

The past couple months there has been a lot of stress in my household. Mainly because expecting our second child has mixed joy with worry. Questions arise daily, from "How am I going to drive a Mini Cooper when I'm in my third trimester?" to "Where is baby #2 going to sleep when he or she is too big for the Moses basket?" to "How are we going to continue to live off of one income?" 

I forget that probably the majority of people expecting their second child have similar worries as well, if not more complex. Reminding myself that I am blessed relieves so much stress on my mind. A burden is lifted from my shoulders when I realize how wonderful it is that I live in a safe apartment, that I get to see my toddler every day and I am not having to place him in childcare, that we are able to purchase necessities, and we are not going hungry or going without clothing. 

Living in the midst of a large city- surrounded by the hustle and bustle of thousands of people, bombarded on every side by billboards and advertisements- I lose sight of what it looks like to live for Christ and not for the world (or for my own fleshly desires). How hard it is to not long for a home, for two cars that are both safe to put children inside of, for expendable income, and for an actual vacation to the beach or the mountains with my husband and child(ren). 

Today, I had a pleasant escape from this temptation of thought. I was able to watch my son be fascinated and overjoyed with nature. A stick to him was a golden scepter and an ordinary rock was a precious gemstone. A leaf was a rare treasure (especially when it had a fuzz ball attached to it), and his little plastic purple ball elicited a shout of joy and a belly giggle. 

Digging in the dirt, trying to understand why tree roots don't come off of the ground, and trying with every fiber of his being to catch the black birds hopping under the picnic benches- that is what contentment means to my toddler of a son. How refreshing, how truly enjoyable, to sit and watch a child thoroughly enjoy God's creation. He didn't need anything electronic, or costly; all it took was a little time, some turkey and cheese, a plastic ball, and the great outdoors. God truly has anticipated all of our needs and provided for them- even down to the smallest of people.