Embracing New Seasons: A Beautiful Reminder from Amy Haynes

As we navigate the transitions in life—whether it’s a senior graduating, a child growing up, or any season coming to a close—it’s easy to focus on what’s ending and feel a sense of loss. Amy Haynes, our Academic Administrator and a senior parent herself this year, recently shared some deeply encouraging words with the parents of graduating seniors. But truly, her reflections are a reminder for all of us.

“The vast majority of things I see and hear are pretty depressing for us senior parents. There is so much focus on the ending that I almost feel like I should be mourning instead of celebrating. Even though I have a couple more months until my nest is officially empty, I want to encourage you (and me).

I remember when my daughter Sadie was days away from turning 10. I found her in her room, crying... Polly Pocket dolls, Littlest Pet Shop animals, and all sorts of Barbies surrounded the pink plastic three-story dollhouse in the middle of the floor. Big tears and a shaky voice revealed the problem. Sadie was devastated at the thought of being double digits. In her little mind, 10 meant the end of an era. Childhood would be gone, and she would be too old for the toys she loved. Her birthday marked the day she would have to pack up all of her favorite things.

I knew the progression into the next season of her life would be gradual as the Lord grew her. I knew that she would not experience a hard stop, but that her heart would begin to love new things. She had not yet picked up a ukulele or discovered her favorite band or begun collecting Pop Figures. I knew that she would be the one who moved the dolls to make room for the new things that represented who she was becoming. Sadie could not imagine being more fulfilled than she was in that moment.

I have a very strong suspicion that the Lord sees me in much of the same way I saw Sadie then. He knows that the seasons to come will usher in new joys that I do not yet have a frame of reference for. Caleb and Sadie will still be all the people they have already been to me, but I will also have the privilege of knowing them as all of the people they will become... independent young adults, a husband and a wife, a dad and a mom. And I will look back on high school graduation and wish I could tell myself that it only gets better. That I should lean into the celebration, trusting that this new season of my life isn't about subtraction, but about beautiful, meaningful addition.

This past week, I moved a piece of furniture that hadn't been moved in years and found an old blue and green Nerf bullet. I thought about how strange it is that things end without us even realizing it. The Nerf wars had become jam sessions, and it had been exciting to clear out the plastic guns to make room for cymbals and drums. What a picture of grace. The Lord slowly and smoothly moves us as He sets our affections on greater things.

Praying for all of us to know how great and kind the Lord is. And to celebrate with joyful reflection and hopeful anticipation.”

"I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." — Ephesians 3:16-19