The other day my daughter Stephanie and I were talking about how excited we are that the seasons are changing.
We sat sweating in 88* Atlanta temperatures, dreaming about breathing in crisp autumn air and strolling over crunchy leaves.
“It already sounds like fall” she said. “Do you know what I mean? I lay in bed early in the morning and outside, it sounds different. Not like it did a month ago in the middle of summer.”
Before dawn this morning I was sipping coffee and having my quiet time out on the screen porch. Thinking about what Stephanie said, I closed my eyes and listened.
She was right.
All through spring and early summer the first bird’s song came around 5:00am. Within thirty minutes our backyard birds were all awake and busy. This morning the yard was quiet and still, only the whisper song of crickets and rustling leaves welcomed daybreak.
You can hear the season changing before you see the changes Father. I prayed.
Is it that way with the seasons in our lives too? If I listen closely can I sometimes hear the hint of change?
My mind searched through recent life-seasons…
A couple of years ago my one-word for the year was Friendship. A really difficult word for this introvert.That year, a 17 year friendship came to an end. It was a very painful loss for me, but if I’m honest, the change did not come suddenly. In some ways I was prepared, sensing the change long before.
In 2011 my one-word for the year was Believe. Throughout that year I felt God gently teaching me to trust Him while I was searching for answers to my health issues. When I was diagnosed with Celiac and Sjorgen’s late that year, I felt a lot of things…but one thing was the deep-down belief that God was in control. Had He used my one-word to gently prepare me to believe…to trust?
This year my one-word is Simplicity. Holy cannoli! The first half of the year was filled with more chaos than I can even tell you! (January: a major renovation in our old house- April: we bought a new house and started HUGE renovations there-May:we moved from a house we’d lived in for 23 years.) But…sigh, now that the chaos is behind us, I’m amazed at how much we’ve simplified our lives. We have purged a house full of things we didn’t need. The move caused every inch of our lives to be pared down and reorganized. This entire year I’ve been focusing on simplicity as my goal all the while chaos filled our little world.
***
In all of those seasons, I heard hints of change before I saw the changes.
Autumn’s coming…I hear her in the early morning, soon she’ll touch the landscape and everything will change.
And at this time of year, as always, I’m looking back over the current year and recording lessons He’s been teaching me through my one-word while asking Him to begin impressing on my heart a word for me to take into 2013.
Change is coming…I’m listening…
Have you ever heard a change in your life coming before you could see it?
And how about your one-word for this year? What are you learning?
~Sending you lots of love today my friends~
JoAnn says
September 12, 2012 at 7:42 amWow..such a beautiful post. It’s been a difficult couple of years here…health issues leading to financial issues…my word for the year is believe and when things get me down I focus on my word! (I made a sign with my word and have it sitting in a shelf were I see it daily) I, too, have a long friendship that is changing…I haven’t said it out loud but maybe like a changing season, maybe changing maybe ending. Reading your post and thinking back…I think you;re right you can hear the changes before you can see them I believe and trust in Him and will move forward with the seasons! Having said all that, I’m going to take my coffee to the patio and listen! Thanks!
Robin says
September 14, 2012 at 5:55 amJoAnn, saying a prayer for you my friend. I’m sorry you’ve had a difficult couple of years…in difficult times, for some reason, it comforts me to ‘believe’ that God is not surprised by the trials…He’s prepared a way long before they happened. He’s in control.
Hang on Dear One…I pray for you to have comfort and direction…and for God to open a door that no man can close.
With your friendship…sigh. Oh I understand. My friendship (that I spoke about) changed in subtle ways for years before we both finally let go. I’m ever thankful for the time we were close and for the beautiful impact she had on my life. I will always love her dearly, but we simply grew into very different people and the friendship stopped being good for either of us. I pray for your heart as you walk this journey.
Sending you love JoAnn xoxo
Julie Garmon says
September 12, 2012 at 7:58 amJust this past weekend at our porch party, I realized there was something different about the sounds. I didn’t hear the buzzing of cicadas.
And this post is AMAZING. I’d never considered how–if we listen–we hear change before it comes.
Oh, how I love this–a new way of thinking. And of Hearing that Still Small Voice.
Love you.
Robin says
September 14, 2012 at 5:48 amJulie, isn’t it true, you HAVE to slow down and quiet yourself in order to hear that still small voice? xoxo
Diana scott says
September 12, 2012 at 8:37 amBeautifully written! Hearing change before seeing it! I’m listening!
Robin says
September 14, 2012 at 5:47 amDiana, I’m listening too my friend xo
Tom says
September 12, 2012 at 8:55 amHow incredible a perspective Robin, thank you! Amazing how powerful listening is! To be still and know He is God and He is speaking through so many ways. I think I am going to step outside for a moment to be refreshed. Blessings!
Robin says
September 14, 2012 at 5:46 amTom…hey friend! Isn’t it just like God that those things that are hard to do, like quiet myself and listen, are in fact the things that can prove to be the most powerful? sending love Tom
Pinky says
September 12, 2012 at 9:19 amOMG, I love this idea of LISTENING for change. I can’t believe I never realixed that before but you are so right. Thank you. I wish I could be an early bird but never get to ed before midnight and then don’t fall asleep sometimes. Tomorrow I am going to LISTEN. I sure do hear the leaves under my feet thogh, they are falling fast here. XOXO
Robin says
September 14, 2012 at 5:45 amPinky…You and I keep different schedules don’t we??? 🙂 I wonder if the sounds of night begin to change as the seasons change??? Listen at midnight and let me know 🙂 xoxo
ColleenwithMurals&More says
September 12, 2012 at 9:48 amAw, dear friend, this is one of those posts that makes me want to reach thru my computer and give you a big hug. One day, one day.
You are SO right, you can hear, if you listen. Anyone who’s ever raised children (boys, in particular) knows there’s a big difference between “hearing” and “listening”.
p.s. We still have 90+ temps here but just now I heard a huge flock of geese flying overhead. So I just stopped, and listened.
Robin says
September 14, 2012 at 5:43 amColleen…I feel your hug Sweet One! Oh my goodness, your perspective on little boys made this even more clear to me!!! My son!!! Oh how he used to listen to me without truly hearing me at all!!!
Autumn is coming friend…sending you love love love
Eileen says
September 12, 2012 at 10:43 amIn this high tech world we live in, I think we all are guilty of not listening. There are so many devices today to distract us and require the use of our eyes only.
Maybe, that is why we are so surprised when change does occur because we are so wrapped up in “seeing” that we never take time to actually listen. There is so much that we miss when we don’t.
“Silent” and “listen” are spelled with the same letters. ~Author Unknown
Eileen xxoo
Robin says
September 14, 2012 at 5:41 amEileen, you’re right! I didn’t consider the high tech aspect…but truly, we live in an overly visual world! I love the ‘silent & listen’ same letters! wow!!!
xo
Anna says
September 12, 2012 at 11:57 amListening for change. I got chills.
Robin says
September 14, 2012 at 5:39 amAnna…hugs my friend xo
Vicky says
September 12, 2012 at 12:26 pmIt takes such a perceptive and reflective heart to even articulate this perspective- I am so not surprised you are the one sharing this with us. I learn so much from you friend, and I am truly honored.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful heart with us! Love you sweet friend~
Robin says
September 14, 2012 at 5:38 amVicky, if there’s one person I know who listens well…it’s you Sweet One. Love u
Deanna says
September 12, 2012 at 7:28 pmBeautiful perspective. I may have to use ‘listen’ for my word for next year. I’ve always been one to listen to the silence and that’s where I find Him. Beautiful words and a beautiful heart and soul expressing changes that are coming. Bless you. <3 Deanna
Robin says
September 14, 2012 at 5:35 amDeanna…oh ‘listen’ would be a wonderful word for the year…it would require more quiet. I love that you said you find Him in the silence…makes me think of His still small voice.
xo
Jane says
September 12, 2012 at 8:54 pmOh, what a beautiful and inspiring post, Robin! Love it and will be reflecting on this for some time to come!
Robin says
September 14, 2012 at 5:33 amJane, sending love friend xo
Elizabeth Stewart says
September 12, 2012 at 11:21 pmI think you are completely right. God prepares us for each season that is coming, if we only have ears to hear. Beautiful post, Robin.
Robin says
September 14, 2012 at 5:33 amElizabeth, I’m praying for ears to hear…xo
Jo Ann says
September 14, 2012 at 8:16 amThank you for your response and your prayer, Robin. 🙂
I too, believe God is control! All is as it should be!
As for the friendship…I suppose it will take the course it needs to…so much of it is really good…time will tell!
I’ve spent more time just listening the last couple of days! All is well!
Looove your blog (and your heart!) Thank you 🙂
xxoo Jo Ann
Dad says
September 16, 2012 at 11:27 amInteresting blog! Stephanie can close her eyes and “hear” Fall.
I read a FB comment recently by Sandra Couch; she said she could
“smell” Fall in the air. People would : ) a real big : ) when I
would mention being able to “see Fall in the changing shadow
patterns,” around the first of August. Interesting, our
perceptions ~
Your new A T H A H site, B E A U T I F U L !!