I was asked to share a spiritual thought with the women of my church last week. The topic was Seasons of Change. This topic is so perfectly timed for me and I am excited to explore this further.

I remember being in the Young Women Presidency several years ago and the President loved to make these awesome t-shirts for Girls Camp. One year, she made a shirt that had a large tree and then four people next to it. The first was a baby crawling, then a young girl, then a teenager, and finally an adult woman. The tree represented the Tree of Life, and the women of different ages were some of the seasons of our life.

It is funny how thinking about seasons of change brought this t-shirt to my mind. There are so many seasons of life that we go through. Some are exciting, some are really stressful, some are both exciting and stressful and some are just plain hard.

Pondering on this brought memories to me of some of my most cherished seasons of change and some of my most grueling seasons of change. My favorite season of change was becoming a mother for the first time. I had hoped and prayed and cried and bargained for this blessing for a really long time. Little did I know, that during the waiting, I was learning about myself. I was preparing to understand patience. It takes great patience when you are a parent. I learned how to make really big decisions that involved trusting God’s plan. I’m still learning that now as a parent. After all, they really are His children, I just get to be their earthly Momma.

I remember, after laboring all night, my little blonde boy was laid gently in my arms and I was able to hold my little miracle. He was born on Mother’s Day. A day that had always been difficult for me. That Mother’s Day, was my first Mother’s Day filled with Joy.

I think that my hardest season of change was the journey that we took to bring all of our children to our family. There were many heartbreaks. Heartbreak when we went through several fertility treatments, IUI, and IVF a second time. Heartbreak when the adoption agency changed the pricing at the last minute to an unaffordable amount. Heartbreak when I realized that God wanted me to become a foster parent. Heartbreak when I went through the foster training. Heartbreak when my first kiddo had to leave us. Heartbreak hearing the stories that these families are going through. Heartbreak at the trauma these children live with. Heartbreak that came from my teenage foster daughter deciding not to be adopted and to leave our home without any explanation.

There are so many other seasons. So many beautiful moments. So many rich memories of Joy and love. I love the seasons of change that I get to share with my loved ones. I also have noticed the seasons of change with friends. Friends have come and gone. But I know that they were there during that season of my life for a purpose. Some taught me how to cook, take care of babies, how to love others, how to serve others, how to forgive others, and how to heal. I am so grateful for all of those people that were in my life for those moments. And I am so very grateful for the technology that we have to keep in touch over many miles of distance now between us.

I’m even thankful for those challenging personality people that have been a part of my life. I learned a lot about myself with those relationships. I learned about boundaries, mercy, forgiveness, and repentance. Those were challenging seasons. It has helped me a lot in my life as a parent and as a more mature friend.

Dear friend, I don’t know what season you are experiencing right now, but I do know that it will serve a purpose for you in this life. If you are experiencing a season of Joy, cherish every moment. Write about it in your journal. Thank God for each tender moment. Look back fondly on it as much as you can.

If you are experiencing a season of struggle, keep your head up. This storm will pass. Know that the Savior, Jesus Christ is not sleeping during this storm. He is giving you as much peace as you will allow Him to and He is watching you become stronger. I know it doesn’t feel that way. I have just gone through my own season of struggling.

Just remember the caterpillar. Not only is that process of change difficult, but the caterpillar is broken down so completely that it literally becomes a pile of goo. Can you relate? I sure can. But from the goo, a beautiful delicate but strong butterfly is formed. That butterfly goes on to do an important job and brings Joy to all who look on them.

I’m trying to be a butterfly. Some days, I’m in the gooey stages of change. But no matter where I am in the process, it is an amazing experience.

I am preparing now for a really big change. I am very excited about it. I am inside my Chrysalis learning and preparing as much as I can and hopefully soon, I will be ready to share with you.