Seasons Change PURPOSEFULLY
Day 134 of Photo Inspirations — Seasons Change PURPOSEFULLY
My photo inspirations today come as a result of spending time recently with my sweet cousin and her husband, Mary Ellen & Charles Snow. They are starting a new chapter in their “life book” — from their Tulsa “roots”, where Charles served in ORU’s Faculty of Theology & Ministry for over 25 years, as well as serving on staff with David Wilkerson’s ministry and then pastoring in Fort Worth, TX. They’re heading back to Texas, where Mary Ellen and I both grew up. She and my sister were “besties” back in their high school and college days.
As Mary Ellen walked me through their beautiful home in Tulsa, Charles was going through and cleaning out his desk. He said, “40 years of collections in there!” They are packing for their move and all the excess will be in an estate sale in a couple of weeks. That beautiful mandolin up on a shelf WILL go with them. Too many sweet memories attached to the mandolin that Charles played with a musical group.
It’s not easy handling transitions of this magnitude. Saying “good bye” to friends that are here, as well as so many treasures that they’ve collected from their ministry travels abroad. But, they know it’s time. They know their seasons have changed. I reminded them of what I told others that we held estate sales for. “You were blessed to have such beautiful treasures for so many years. You made lots of memories with those treasures. But now, it’s time to ‘pay those treasures and memories’ forward. Now others will be able to cherish those treasures and make memories of their own”.
I love this couple so much for how they’ve given their lives to serving God and leading many people to Him, but I love them because they’re family. Mary Ellen is the daughter of my Mom’s sister, Shad Ruth. Aunt Shad was the first one who bought me a pair of slacks. Oh, what a huge BREAKTHROUGH in my world. LOL!
As we were walking through their house, Mary Ellen opened the door of a closet and exclaimed, “Oh, Donna. Would you want this quilt?” I asked, “Did Grandma make it?” And she replied, “Either Aunt Lillie Mae or Grandma did!” I became the recipient of a treasure. I brought it home and opened the sealed, plastic, zippered bag and there were two twin quilts inside. And I had a flashback. For just a period of time, after my Dad had passed away, my Mom lived with my aunt and the two of them slept on the twin beds in her room. Those are the quilts from those twin beds — at least 50 years ago. I am elated to possess such a treasure. And oh how blessed I am to know that our lives are about seasons, and with each one — whether in our childhood, youth, married, children and grandchildren, God purposely knows each season…..prepares the way for us to not just survive each one…..but to thrive and flourish in each one. Yes, Mary Ellen, Charles AND I will continue to thrive and flourish on this side of heaven…..until our new season will be an ETERNAL one! Accepting the seasons and their changes is part of the Master Plan — realizing He has our best interests at heart sure makes the journey be even sweeter.