3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

² A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which 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 cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

⁶ A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

⁷ A time to rend, 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; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

If I had to pick a favorite season, it would be spring and summer. Why spring and summer? Because that is softball season. Softball season has been a favorite season for my family for almost as long as I can remember. We took softball to a whole new level! We played tournaments every weekend and we had our vacation wherever the softball tournaments took us.

I grew up watching and playing softball and when it was time to decide whether or not I wanted to continue playing after high school I was surprised when I talked myself into believing I was done. That feeling did not last very long. Before my last high school season was over, I began to be able to see my life without softball and I was not ready for my childhood love to be gone. So I decided to make a short term decision and attend Gadsden State Community College which would only guarantee me two more years of softball. I had no idea how meaningful this season of my life would be.

Simply put, playing softball at Gadsden State changed my life. I am who I am and I have amazing people in my life because of softball. This is proof that seasons CAN change your life. As a child, I played ball for fun. I continued to play for fun as I got older but the game began to mean more to me. I could not have told you what that was a couple of years ago, though. I could not have told you because so many times, the seasons we love are taken away before we realize how much they truly mean to us.

I had two of the best coaches while I played at Gadsden State. What continues to stand out in my mind about them, even after three years, is not the skills of the game they taught me. It is that they showed me there was way more to softball than actually playing the game. They showed me that the game is filled with adversity, just like life is and that we will not get through the adversity alone; we need “teammates” and God. They taught me to enjoy and love those around you. You are not always going to get along with everyone on your “team” but you have to work together. And last but certainly not least, they taught me to do the right thing no matter what. Of course, I have been taught this my entire life but when it comes from someone besides your parents it means something a little different. Do the right thing, not just for yourself but for your “team.” Doing something the wrong way will not only hurt you but sometimes it hurts your “teammates” even more than it hurts you.

Playing softball was my season for a very long time. God gives us seasons so we can learn and that is exactly what He did with my season of softball. Throughout what I consider my most important season, God taught me some tough lessons, He built me up and showed me who I was supposed to become and He gave me significant relationships; I met two of my best friends and my boyfriend during this season of my life, who all would come to mean more to me than I ever thought anyone could. You know you have a special season in your life when it hurts, and brings tears to your eyes when you think about all of the memories that season brings.

God chose to use my softball season to teach me and help me grow, but He may choose a different season for you. Listen to what God is trying to tell you about the season you may be in right now and know that He never intended for each season to be perfect.

Most days I would give anything to be back in that season of my life but I have to have faith that there is a season in my future that God has set before me that will bring me many more lessons and special memories.