Seasons and Reasons

When my brave daughter planned her memorial service she specified these words of wisdom to be in the funeral letter.  It was a personal note from Vic to us.  I wonder how many people actually realized it?

Reason, Season and Lifetime …

People always come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.
When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.
…

When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty,
or to provide you with guidance and support,
to aid you physically, emotionally, or even spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend to you, 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 just walk away.
Sometimes they act up or out 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 it is now time to move on.
…

When people come into your life for a SEASON,
it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.
They may 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.
And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall,
the season eventually ends.
…

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

Thank you for being part of my life.

Love

Vicky

When I read this the first time I categorized people in to the Reason; Season and Lifetime categories… I clearly remembered and recognized the “Reason” and “Season” friends…  I found that the “Reason” people were people who crossed my path early in my life… I almost felt that it was old work colleagues, school friends, childhood neighbours.  Character defining people who either moved on or were left behind by me.

A “Season” can be defined as an hour, day, week, year, or several years. Maybe even part of a lifetime, but it will at some time fade out and for no real reason.   The “Seasoners” will bring you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.  The season relationship is not something to force or cling to… It dies naturally and through no fault of either person.

Lifetime friendships offer not only good times, but also survives bad times, offers times for growth and challenge. The friendship grows over time, and a deep abiding bond develops – a love which sustains both people in the friendship.  They become members of your family.  They may be people with whom you’ve grown up or met yesterday, but they will be there “until death do us part”.

I stood in front of the church flanked by my grandsons when I delivered my precious child’s eulogy.  I looked at the people and recognised the “Reasoners, Seasoners and Life timers…”

I saw so many Life Timers who truly loved Vic until death saved her from more pain and suffering.  Friends that never abandoned her, patiently waited for a good day to see her… Friends quietly crying tears of deep sorrow and loss….

I remembered why Vic chose this poem, in 2003, to be in her funeral letter.  She wanted to thank each and every person for the role they played in her life.  She wanted people to know that she clearly saw and accepted this truth. She felt great sorrow when someones time with her ended. It’s only natural when we come to love someone to want them to be there forever. Vic clung to relationships and friendships way past their “expiry” date.  She mourned her losses.

Vic did however learn that very valuable life lesson – to be grateful for whatever time she was granted with those she cared about.  Vic clung to life to extend her time with the “life timers”…

Death had to pry her fingers from Life and her Life Timers…