I was having a conversation with a friend last week.

She was among the first group of people I met as a newcomer to Canada.

A nice, friendly lady who was always ready to chat with me, find out how I was coping and ready to offer some words of encouragement. I loved talking to her. I still do.

As we talked last week, she asked after my children.

“I know they are all grown now. I remember your early days in this country eh! They were like your shadow, always with you and around you!”

“Oh yes!” I responded and laughed. “Everyone is independent now. I can leave the house without an escort!”

“I can imagine! At that time, it looked like those days will never end but look at you now! God has been good to you!”

We laughed, talked about other things, made a commitment to stay in touch , wished each other well and we ended the call.

I paused for a moment to think about our conversation. She was right! Those early days as a new immigrant were quite tough for me.

I remember walking my kids to school, running back home and trying to do as much as I could within the few hours that they were out so they could have my attention when they return from school. Then there were also days that I got so tired and my only option was to take them to a children’s play center after school so that they could run around with the other kids while I found a spot somewhere in the room where I could just sit and rest.  

I remember searching for a new house and moving in the peak of winter. It was a snowy Saturday morning in February. Thankfully, my husband had already made arrangements for the move when he visited in December. It would have been worse if he didn’t!

Should I talk about my days as a student? When I had to get my kids ready and drop them off at care at 7am so that I can meet up with my 8:30am class on Tuesdays? It was an Accounting class. I was never early for that class because the bus ride to school was almost 2 hours. I always missed the first 30mins of the class and for the remaining time, I was always lost, wondering what the professor was talking about. Why won’t I be lost anyway? Accounting is Math and Math hates me! How I passed that course remains a mystery to me!

I remember on one of those days, I was in a hurry to drop my children off. I got them into the car, buckled them up in their car seats and turned around to get into the driver’s seat of the car. Swoooosh! I slipped on black ice, fell backwards and hit my head on the ground! I lay there for a minute or two, first to be sure it was actually me on that floor and secondly, to confirm I wasn’t dead!

You are having a good laugh, right? Me too!

I remember showing up for an interview and few days later, I called to know if I would be selected for the role. The manager confirmed that I did well enough to be selected but they won’t give me the job due to my availability.

Those were some crazy days! Every minute was important to me. My steps where brisk and calculated. I walked like a soldier on a mission. I was the mom, cleaner, driver and cook. I was also the care-giver, problem-solver, peace-maker and snow-blower!

I remember when our boys had surgeries on different days within two weeks. I prayed that our first son’s recovery will happen fast enough so that I won’t have to take care of two of them at the same time.

I also remember that through all of these, we had support. There was always someone around who showed up to help and make the work easier. We had friends, church members, kind neighbors and strangers who cared. We had family who, though they were far away, would call to know how we were doing.

Now, our kids are not toddlers anymore (well, except for one!). They can do a few things without any help. They can brush their teeth, shower, make their beds, pack their lunch, make breakfast, do the dishes and run errands around the house. They are gradually learning to be independent. That period was a phase that looked like it would never end but it did.

That is life. It has seasons.

Rough seasons. Tough seasons. Sad seasons. Painful seasons.

Seasons of lack. Seasons of waiting. Seasons of uncertainty.

Seasons when you have to put a dream on hold.

Seasons when you have to start all over again.

Seasons when you have to keep your head above the waters.

Seasons when you have to lie low.

These seasons may look like they have come to stay but that is not the truth. We only feel that way because we are overwhelmed but if we look closely, we will see that we are making progress, as little as it may seem. We will also see that in the midst of it all, God is always there.

Hear what He says:

“I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you.” (Hebrews 13:5 The MSG translation).

Did you read that? Did you see the word, ‘NEVER’? Do you know that God cannot lie? Do you know that He keeps His promises?

Dear friend, seasons will come and then they will go. It’s like night and day. They don’t last forever. They will surely come, but they will definitely pass and while you are going through that season, God will be there as your companion.

He will NEVER let you down, never walk off and leave you.

Keep you head up. This too will pass!