Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-4; Revelation 21:1-4

Jill sat on the bench in her backyard and kicked at the dead leaves around her feet. This was one of the worst days of her life. She'd just found out that Aunt Karen had died from cancer.

Jill slumped against the back of the bench and thought about how Aunt Karen would often go shopping and out to lunch with Jill and her mom on Saturdays before she got sick. They called it their ladies' day out. A tear ran down Jill's cheek as she realized that now they would never have another adventure with the three of them again.

Just then Mom came out of the house and sat down on the bench. She took Jill in her arms and they both sat there and cried. After a while Jill sat up and wiped her eyes. "Mom, will my heart always hurt this bad? Will it ever get better?"

Mom wiped her own eyes and cleared her throat. "We both loved Aunt Karen and will miss her very much. The Bible says there's a time and a season for everything, and right now it's our time to mourn." She took a deep breath. "At least we can be glad knowing she's no longer suffering and that one day we'll see her again."

"I'm having a hard time feeling glad about anything right now," said Jill. "It feels like I'll be mourning forever." She began kicking at the dead leaves on the ground again.

Mom looked up to the trees above them. "Jill, look at all the trees losing their leaves! Do you think they'll ever get them back?"

Jill gave her mom a funny look. "Of course they will, Mom. The trees will grow new leaves in the spring. You know that."

"Yes," said Mom. "The trees lose their leaves because they go through seasons--and we go through seasons in our lives. Some are good and others difficult, but Jesus is always there with us through all of them. We can trust Him to carry us through this season of mourning, knowing it won't last forever. Seasons change, and one day, when we finally see Jesus face-to-face, all our troubles and sadness will be gone for good." Mom put her arm around Jill. "Trust that God will never leave you or forget you, no matter what season you're in."

–Melissa Yeagle