Women’s Devotion: Reaching Out in Times of Change
Ecclesiastes 3:1 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
Many of us have heard the familiar message before, that for everything there is a season. It is no secret that suddenly now everywhere you look, there are signs of change, reminding us that another beloved summertime has come to an end. School-aged children have been making their way back to the classrooms, cooler mornings greet us as we walk out the door, and fall decorations have prominent placement in most stores you enter. This happens to be my most favorite time of year, and it always has been since I can remember.
However, I also recognize that my friends who love the sweet summertime and hot weather may not share my same feelings and there can be mixed emotions with this shift as there can be with anything that feels like change. As a mom of younger children, I have many friends sending their kids to Kindergarten for the first time, which while it is so exciting and wonderful, it, of course, can also be met with anxiousness and changes for the entire family. It has been humbling for me to see my community of friends rally around each other, take the time to ask questions and listen to each other about how this transition really is going for them. It has made me realize the importance of being there for one another during any type of transition, just to check in.
As we know, our lives are constantly evolving and changing, and while some changes may be somewhat predictable or in season, these changes are often not experienced the exact same way by any two people. It can be a very powerful thing to reach out, to talk and listen, and help encourage one another. We don’t know the impact a simple conversation or gesture could have on another person to make them feel heard and their feelings validated.
Dear Lord, as we go about our daily lives this month, please help us consider those around us, and guide us as we check in on our friends and help each other navigate whatever changes and transitions we are currently facing.
Amen.
Written by Kristin Blomendahl
Kristin Blomendahl, a member of the Sheridan Women’s Ministry Team, lives in Lincoln with her husband Ben, son Max (5), and daughter Shelby (1). Kristin and Ben were both raised on farms in Northeast Nebraska, attended UNL, were married at Sheridan, and then lived in California and Maryland before moving back home to “The Good Life” to raise their family. Kristin’s educational background is in Nutrition and Public Health and she is currently a stay at home mom.