By Michelle Taylor

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1–8)

If we take a moment to really observe the world around us, we can see that everything moves in seasons and cycles. Life has a natural rhythm—highs and lows, ebbs and flows. When we’re in a low point, it can be hard to imagine the upswing, but just like the seasons, it does come. Maybe not as fast as we’d like, but when we stay open to seeing it, the shift often comes more quickly than we expected.

It’s easy to get stuck in the lows—or even to brace ourselves for them when things are going well, as if joy must always come with a looming expiration date. But life isn't meant to be lived in fear of the next down cycle.

I remember when I had seven little children all under the age of 10. It felt like I would never sleep again, let alone do anything for myself. I couldn’t imagine a day when I’d have even a moment to think, let alone dream. But slowly, as they grew and began learning to care for themselves, I saw how much things had shifted. Time, which once felt like it was dragging, suddenly seemed to fly. My husband and I started going on dates again. Getting everyone out the door became less of an ordeal. I even enrolled in online college classes and found fulfillment in new ways.

Now, with two more little ones added to our family, I’ve come full circle—but it’s not the same. This time, I have help from older children. I have more perspective. I know this stage won’t last forever, and because of that, I’m learning to enjoy it more—mess and all.

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