A Reason, Season or Lifetime

People, Places and Things come into our life for a Reason, Season or Lifetime

I recently received another e-mail about “life lessons to pass on”.  Some of the lessons listed were concepts like: “Change is the only permanent thing in life” or “Trust, but verify”.  The list of lessons can be short or long.  This caused me to consider how I have learned some of life’s lessons.

Have you ever noticed how someone or something comes into your life?  It might be for a few hours, for months or years, or maybe your whole life.  A few examples might be a person you meet on a plane, a place you visit, a book, spouse, coworker, teacher, a walking buddy, speaker, pet, stranger, friend or family member.  Some just pass through un-noticed, while others leave a lasting impression.

When I went to college, I joined the choir.  My professor was Leland Lundgren.  He was a creative, fun and demanding sort.  He could be intimidating.  I didn’t take the class very seriously and really wanted to just put enough effort into it to make an acceptable grade.  But he wanted more.  He thought I could reach that higher note if I would just allow myself to take a risk to sound bad at my first attempts.  I sounded pretty bad, but he kept after me to just try.  He was right, I finally could reach that note and it sounded alright.  Many years have passed since my college days and to this day, I still enjoy singing and harmonizing.  Even more important, Mr. Lundgren helped me learn to take a risk and step outside my comfort zone.  I didn’t have that perspective at the time, but looking back, that lesson has served me well.  I haven’t seen Mr. Lundgren for many years, but I learned a valuable lesson from him.

People have been entering and exiting my life for as long as I can remember.  Some I thought would always be there, but are gone.  Others I never thought I would see again, but we still keep in touch.  I have learned many life lessons in places or with people I would never expect.  I believe this to be true, people, places and things can come into our life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.  It is up to us to pay attention and learn.  Here is a poem that provides more understanding.

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or
a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you
will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON . . . It is
usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have
come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you
with guidance and support, to aid you physically,
emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a
godsend, and they are! They are there for the reason
you need them to be.

Then, without any wrong doing on your part, or at an
inconvenient time, this person will say or do something
to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die.
Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met, our
desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you
sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON . . .
Because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount
of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons: things
you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional
foundation. Your job is to accept the the
lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all
other relationships and areas of your life. It is said
that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.  

Author Unknown

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