the thing about clenched fists

Another season is just around the corner. Summer is putting it’s finishing touches on 2010 and slowly allowing autumn to swoop in and amaze us once again with her beautiful colors and smells of bonfires and cider. It’s awfully polite of Summer to pack it up and leave so soon, although it leaves girls like me a bit heartbroken. Not because fall isn’t fabulous. And not because we don’t appreciate the pure fallen snow Winter promises. It’s simply because Summer is good. And between you and me, Winter overstays it’s welcome.

Kids remind me of this. Children run around the play room, grasping their favorite toys. It’s innocent, really. No matter who comes along or what else comes their way, they don’t let go. The problem arises at the swing set. In order for children (or lets face it, adults…because who doesn’t enjoy a good swing?!) to enjoy the swings, they have to surrender their toys in their fists. Then and only then can they hold onto the chains on the swings and kick their feet and laugh and play, pretending to fly away.

Everything under the sun has a time and a place that is so perfect, we can’t deny it. Things change. So have I. I’m learning that the secret is to keep up. Staying teachable is absolutely indispensable. Every season has something beautiful to offer, and if I don’t find it and delight in it soon enough, it will be gone. And sure, there will be other blessings in other stages of life, but each is unique and I don’t want to miss it.

On the flip side, I also find myself dwelling on the blessings in the past and wishing so badly they were still here. See, you can’t receive many blessings with clenched fists. It’s not how life works. There are times you have to surrender the toys and grab hold of the swing. Otherwise you’ll never feel the wind in your hair as you pretend like you’re flying away…