A Reason, a Season, a Lifetime

I recently heard the phrase that people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. I definitely agree with this. I know in my own life, I can name people that have been for a reason, a season, and a lifetime, but what really made me think is that we, or at least I don't always recognize the time as a reason or a season. I have gone over the many friends I have had in my life that I am no longer in touch with or close to. Were we friends for a reason or a season? I have some that I haven't spoken to in years, but I know if we were together we would pick up where we left off. Is that a season or a lifetime? My wheels started spinning. 

I thought about how my plan 32 years ago was to move to Pontiac, teach for one year then move back home. I'm still here. Obviously I am here for a reason, and the season seems to be my entire adult life, and the lifetime. 

What is the meaning of the lifetime? Some people do stay in our lives forever. But some do not. We assume our family is for a lifetime, but that doesn't always work out that way. Sometimes people are in our lives for a few minutes or a few months or years. Sometimes it is a child, a parent, a spouse. That reason for our love and loss is often times the motivation for the rest of our life. Or it is the reason we make changes or give more of ourselves to others. Or it is the reason we come to when nothing else makes sense and we are desperate for an answer. 

The reason and the season are directly connected to the lifetime. We have to take the time to find the value in these moments in our lives - the good, the bad, and the moments in between - because we have a constant in our lives that fits all three parts of this phrase.

The friend, the constant, that comes into our lives for a lifetime is God. Always present, always guiding, always holding us up. He is the reason, the season, and the lifetime. Have great hope!