June 9, 2026
from Deacon Joanne Warman
Who has a favourite season? I am guessing that if we were to take a poll, there would be a variety of answers. For me it is summer. I am one of those lucky people who is not bothered by the heat. When I was a child, summer meant time off school and because I was a child before video games, playing outside all day long, going to the park and running through the sprinkler. It meant swings, slides and kool-aid.
Even though summer remains my favourite, I am happy to live in a country with four seasons. Spring brings that promise of new life with flowers popping up, Fall brings crisp apples, sweater weather, and harvest moons, winter brings colourful lights, Christmas carols, and blankets of snow.
Our Christian lives have different seasons too. I am guessing our favourite season is when everything is going well, we have no problems praying and all is well in our own little world. Then, we have those seasons when everything is not good – loss of a loved one, job, or any number of things. In this season, sometimes it is hard to pray.
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 addresses these seasons:
1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what 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 throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
7 a time to tear, 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;
Yes, we all prefer the joyful seasons of our lives but as you enjoy this summer, keep that joy in your heart and when winter comes, smile and remember it only a season, it doesn’t last forever.
In the “Winter Seasons” remember that the God who was with you in Summer is the same God who is with you in Winter. He always listens even when we don’t seem to have the words. Lean on Him and let Him give you strength.
Prayer:
O God, in the course of this busy life give us times of refreshment and peace and grant that we may so use our leisure to rebuild our bodies and renew our minds, that our spirits may be opened to the goodness of your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
– BAS pg. 679
