seasons – Grits with Grace

gratitude, life, prayer, Scripture, thankful, Thanksgiving

From Where I Sit

Posted on November 3, 2025November 2, 2025 by Dewayne Taylor

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

It was a moment of perspective. It was Saturday morning…early. The skies were cloudy, and it was cool…not unpleasantly cool but enough where my shoeless toes were just a bit cold. I had settled on our small front porch and was just looking and pondering. Our maple tree, Herman, was strutting his stuff, full of mostly red leaves. My wife Judy and I have had the privilege of living here long enough to see him grow from a twig to a real tree and he is beautiful.

As I looked and as I pondered his fall beauty, it occurred to me that soon, too soon, he would be stripped of his foliage and his truck and limbs would be left bare. What a stark change…but what a necessary change. You see, our Creator God, knew not only the value of seasons and cycles for our world and nature, but also for us. It was only a few weeks ago that Herman was fully green—fully full of life. But as time passed the time came for the beauty of fall followed by the starkness of winter. But, if all things continue, next spring, life will return.

That, dear friends, is the way it is meant to be—for us. While nature is on a time schedule, we are not but still the seasons come and go. With our lives full and our limbs filled with the green of life—we live. But one day, the leaves will begin to turn, and it won’t necessarily be a time thing—it will be a “His time” thing. But surely, they will change, and we will face the prospects of winter—when things die back so they can live again in Spring.

If you are like me and constantly amazed how quickly life is sprinting by, understand that while the leaves of our life are slowly changing and one day will be gone—we will not. We who can call God our Father have the promise of Spring—of new life—not here but there. But know this—it is as sure as—well anything—and more. His promise of life after this life is rock solid. Heaven is real and it is waiting for each person who puts their faith in Jesus—God’s Son.

So, what are we to do? We are to enjoy the seasons…which ever one we find ourselves in. Herman is magnificent now in all his color, but he is also magnificent in summer and spring—and yes—in winter for winter is the promise of a coming spring. So, enjoy where you are and know that no matter what—no matter if the leaves of our lives are healthy and green or slowly fading and falling—He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, life, school days, Scripture, thankful

Seasons Come and Seasons Go

Posted on October 13, 2025October 12, 2025 by Dewayne Taylor

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Seasons come and seasons go. A while back Judy’s great nephew posted a picture on Facebook. It showed their son, maybe five years old, walking down his driveway. On his back he carries a backpack that is just about as big as he is. He is heading to school—his first day of kindergarten. The first day of school is an event, even more so when it is kindergarten, especially for mom and dad. In the foreground of the picture, is a line of toys…I suppose some of his favorites. The message was beautifully clear. As seasons change, as great adventures come along, as each new journey starts, sometimes you must leave what you love behind. It’s part of growing up—it’s part of life. I’m sure out of camera range was mom, and dad too, who watched through teary eyes. Their little boy was growing up. Seasons come and seasons go.

It happened a couple of weeks ago as Fall silently arrived. Did you feel it? Did you sense it? Probably not. For most it wasn’t even a blip on the calendar. There was no fanfare, no ticker-tape parade, no sounds trumpeting its arrival. In many ways it was just a day on the calendar that most of us probably missed. But not everyone missed it. The trees took note. Slowly and surely, their leaves began turning a beautiful yellow and red before drifting, floating to the ground. The plants took note. The shortening days began telling their leaves it was time to prepare for next spring by preparing for winter’s sleep. And oh yes, the squirrels definitely knew it. They began gathering their supply of acorns and pecans, tucking them away for the coming winter. You see, Fall is a time of transition…nature’s way of letting us know that another season is soon coming…Winter. And Winter, like all the seasons, is something to celebrate—something to embrace.

For me the first day of Fall was an event. Every year I look forward to it. I told my wife that part of the mystery of Fall is how something so beautiful prepares the way for a time of dormancy and sleep. You might think of it as a time of things dying but you would be wrong. No, it is a time of preparation and transition. Remember…seasons come and seasons go. And in the beauty of Fall we see the promise of Spring, of new life. It is that way for nature. It is that way for us. In the Fall of our lives, things begin to change and it is God’s way of preparing us for new life, eternal life with Him. While we do have to walk through the winter of death, just on the other side is the eternal spring of heaven. It is something to celebrate—something to embrace.

So, seasons come and go. It is true in nature and it is true in life. While the changing seasons sometimes bring challenges they also bring on exciting new adventures. Changing seasons on the calendar are something to celebrate—something to embrace. It is God’s promise to us that something new is coming. The author of Ecclesiastes reminds us that for everything there is a season—a time for every purpose under heaven. He’s telling us that seasons come and seasons go. There are times for living and dying, playing and harvesting, dancing and sitting still. Yes, it is something to celebrate—and something to embrace.

As we casually flip the pages of the calendar, as the clock keeps ticking, leading us toward new seasons and new adventures, don’t get stuck in the cold of Winter. No, remember this—Spring is on the other side. Every day is a gift from God and is a gentle nudge from our Dearest Daddy that He is preparing new seasons and new adventures for us. Like our first day of kindergarten, it might mean leaving behind some of the things we love, but we can rest in Him knowing that only the best comes from Him and He never, ever gets it wrong. Never. Sleep well tonight knowing that He who creates the days, masters the same. Rest knowing that He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

food, Grace, life, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful

Time in the Toaster

Posted on July 31, 2025July 29, 2025 by Dewayne Taylor

“The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and He provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.” Exodus 13:21-22

I felt like a piece of toast in the toaster. Where I live in the Midwest we have been under what the weather people call a heat dome. It is basically a large area of high pressure that settles on top on an area allowing a constant flow of good, ole, hot, Southern gulf air to continually flow in. Now, I am a southern boy and I generally like Southern things but this is one thing I don’t.

I was at the doctor this afternoon about 3:00 pm. As you might know that is generally one of the hottest times of the day. I parked my car and opened the door and was immediately met by a blast of stinkin’ hot air. As I have already said it was already just plain ole hot but the owner of the parking lot had just had the surface of the lot refinished and it was black–very black. Black draws the heat of the sun like white on rice. So that magnified the hotness. As I walked toward the office I went in between two cars and let me tell you, that’s when I felt like a piece of toast. The sun reflecting off both of the vehicles created a super hot spot.

Now I’m not writing this to whine but I promise you this is one time a little whining is warranted. Can I have an amen? I am writing this because I love promises–especially ones that promise relief and hope. You see, the weather guys are telling us that Thursday night a cool front is going to sweep through and that ole heat dome is going to move somewhere and instead of that hot Southern air we are going to have some sweet, drier air from the North. Can I have an Amen?

Now I know the weather guys don’t always get it right but the one who creates the weather always does. You see, the one who made the earth and the atmosphere designed it all. He actually built into the plan changes and seasons because that is just how life is. It shows His wisdom and love for us. This change is a message from our Dearest Daddy that He loves us–enough to allow the hot and enough to send the cool. Have you ever thought about the time the children of Israel were hiking in the desert and God sent them a pillar of fire to provide warmth at night and a pillar of cloud to provide air conditioning during the day. How about that!

So when you read this remember how hot it was and how God sent some relief. He is such a good and caring Father. He not only has His hand on the wheel of our lives He has His fingers on the thermostats of our lives. We don’t need to worry because we know, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Christmas, Easter, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, Scripture, spiritual battles, spring, thankful, Trials

Paradise Lost and Found

Posted on November 25, 2024November 24, 2024 by Dewayne Taylor

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:17

It was paradise lost. I’m not sure why it happened. I’m not even sure how it happened…but it did. Several years ago, we had accumulated a great collection of large tropical plants to accent our patio during the summer. Our guests love our garden, and I suppose they love our plants too. But then something happened. You see; to keep them alive through the winter, we had to move them into our garage and nurse them during the cold weather. We would install special lights, water them, and learn to squeeze our car in between them. It was a hassle, but we did it…until we didn’t

One year, well, we didn’t. It all started when we had a light frost early in the season and since Judy was gone…I didn’t mess with it. That’s the bad news. The good news is that somehow, they survived. Since it happened on my watch, I breathed a sigh of relief. That opened a pandora’s box because when the next frost came, and I believe it was on my watch again, I found a reason to throw caution to the wind. Once again, they survived and so did I.

Then, fast forward a little while later, we were deeper into fall and nudging winter. With Judy back, the plants were in safer hands. When the temperatures threatened to move from frost to freeze, we braved the cold wind and moved them inside displacing the car to the fate of the cold. Sure enough, it warmed up again, and out they came. Well, that year we decided to go on a cruise. We knew the forecast called for a couple of cold mornings, but we were pressed for time and couldn’t think of anyone to gather the plants for us…so we left them to their fate.

Sure enough, it froze and so did they…all of them. At first, it wasn’t too bad but then it was. Some quickly, some slowly began to show the damage of a freeze on something that was never meant to see or feel the extreme cold. Some leaves wilted and some turned dark brown. The result was a paradise lost. What was once beautiful looked like a tropical war zone. It also meant a lot of whacking and cleaning up to do. It was sad in one way but wait there is a silver lining.

You see, first, there was more room in my garage this winter. Yay. It also meant that there was a fresh start…a new beginning when spring came. Yes, there was a cost involved…there usually is for a new beginning…when something is reborn. But it was worth it. Several plants showed their age, and the new ones will be stronger than the old ones. It.Was.Worth.It.

You know God said the same thing about us, don’t you? You know that God knew we needed a lot more than a time in the “garage,” we needed a fresh start, a new birth and yes, it came at a great price. It meant there had to be a Christmas and there had to be an Easter. It meant His Son leaving heaven for a stable and a feeding trough and it meant a rugged Roman cross, a horrible death but gratefully…also a resurrection. It meant we could go from eternal death to eternal life—that we could go from war to peace—that we could call Him…wait for it…Father. But all that was possible only after the price was paid. Like the song says, “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, but He made it white as snow.”

White as snow. From death to life. How amazing is that? Each fall, I scour the yard and remove the death…preparing for spring and new life. I chose to look past the present and forward to the new…to spring. And, if your world looks a little like my backyard with more dead than alive, remember that God waits to bring new life into your life. He said in John 3:17 that His Father didn’t send Him to condemn the world but rather through Him we, you, could be saved…rescued…redeemed.” That is good…that is really good. So, no matter the mess, write it down…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, food, friends, gratitude, life, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, thankful

Vine Ripened

Posted on July 8, 2024July 6, 2024 by Dewayne Taylor

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

You know there’s just something about a vine ripened tomato. Yup, it is that time of the year again. Around our neck of the woods, it starts happening around the 4th of July. All those folks who planted tomatoes earlier on are now enjoying the fruit of their labors. Oh, and by the way…did you know that tomatoes are a kind of fruit? Well, that’s what I read on the internet anyway and you know everything on the internet is true. Smile.

Well, every year some nice folks who raised tomatoes will call and offer us some of their bounty. If we don’t have any we would gratefully answer yes and get some. If we still had some on the counter, we would let them know we were good but don’t forget us. This year, like everything else from toilet paper to new windows for your new house, tomatoes are expensive. My friend was telling me how he paid $3.19 for one large, vine ripened tomato. Holy moly that is like red gold, but I suppose a good tomato is worth it.

Judy stopped by a stand and got three small tomatoes and a couple of other veggies and paid about $7.00. That night we had them for supper. We put some salt and pepper on them and then some feta cheese. Oh my, and shoot that thing, they were so good and seemed worth every penny. Well, a couple of days ago, she got a nice large tomato from one of the local grocery stores. I mean it looked really good. So, we sliced it, added salt and pepper, and crowned it with feta cheese and…it was terrible.

You see that bright red large tomato wasn’t vine ripened. I don’t know all the details, but somehow most commercially grown tomatoes are picked green and then “gassed” and this causes them to prematurely turn red. Consequently, they may look good, but they are almost tasteless. They spend less time on the vine and consequently simply don’t taste as good. The ones that hang on the vine, taking the time nature intended are so much better than the ones we force to maturity.

I wonder, no I know – that is true in life also. So often we force situations and sometimes force people into relationships, and segments of life for which they simply are not ready. I know it seems our children are forced to grow up so much faster than I was. When that happens, well, in the best case they miss out on some of the great parts of growing up and in the worst case they end up struggling in life because they simply were not ready. But it is not just the kids, but it can also include relationships. We jump into marriages for which we are not ready…sometimes just because the clock is ticking, and we don’t want to end up alone.

I wonder if we can learn something from the tomato and the ones who grow them. I wonder if we can learn the value of just taking our time…time to ripen on the vine and gain the flavor that God intended? I wonder if we can learn to slow down and trust God just a little more. I remember just how disappointed I was when I put that “gassed” tomato in my mouth and found it bland and tasteless. It may have looked better, but it sure didn’t taste better than its vine ripened cousin.

I’m reminded of Ecclesiastes 3:1 which tells us, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” What a difference it might make if we let things have their season…their time. Our world might be a little better, our lives a little sweeter and our tomatoes a little tastier. I know that sometimes it is hard to wait for the seasons but if you think about it…it might be worth it. Need some help in the waiting department? If you know God personally, why not ask your Dearest Daddy for a little advice? I’m sure He would be more than glad to help. And if you don’t know Him yet, go ahead and introduce yourself. Just whisper a prayer and you will find Him ready to love and help you. After all, He’s got a big heart and strong arms…and “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, prayer, Scripture, sovereignty of God, Trials

Just Beneath the Surface

Posted on January 23, 2024January 20, 2024 by Dewayne Taylor

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

I stood at the window and looked. It was a cold morning in January…and it was getting colder. Overnight an arctic front had blown through leaving a heavy dusting of snow and falling temperatures all accompanied by a blustery north wind that made the cold seem even more frigid. The morning light was just breaking so it was still dark and as I looked, I saw despair…saw nothing that seemed to offer hope.

Life is like that sometimes, isn’t it? Everywhere we look there are challenges. House fires, accidents, perplexing situations with our careers and injustice are all around us. We have several in our families who are struggling with cancer and end-of-life stages. Well-used bodies are beginning to fail. Even though the life journey for them has been long, it is still difficult to face the fact that some goodbyes are not far in the future.

And then there is tomorrow. Tomorrow I will be officiating at a funeral for a much too young 18-year-old high school junior. He was struck by an automobile and didn’t survive the encounter. It is going to be hard—there is just no way around it. See what I mean? Life can often seem like the view from my winter window. It would seem so hopeless…except for one thing. Spring.

You see, all things equal, I know something. I know that sleeping beneath the cold and perhaps frozen earth are grass and plants from last year and while they are sleeping now, they won’t sleep forever. In just a couple of months, a few weeks, they are going to burst back into the sun and life will begin again. It is going to happen because that is the way God made it. He created the seasons for us to…enjoy. It is hard to understand that on this cold January morning, but it is true. And this cold morning is going to help me appreciate the new life when it happens. I will have a deeper appreciation of life.

So, if your life seems like a frigid morning in January, know this. God wants, God desires to bring life in the Spring. Whether it is an encounter with eternity or a dark time with no sign of light, God wants to bring hope into your story. He gave His Son for that very purpose. Jesus died on a Roman cross so we could live. He defeated death by coming back to life that first Easter morning. Just like the first flower brave enough to bloom in early Spring, so He bloomed to offer hope…to each of us…to all of us. All we must do is believe, to have faith.

All the wishing in the world won’t change the view out my winter window…but time will. And in His time, He will bring Spring to yours too. Don’t give up. Just believe this. Right below the surface of your life, just like the cold, frozen ground outside my window, there is life, and that life is going to burst out of the ground one day. There is hope…even where you are now. Struggling to believe? Don’t worry…He can help you with that too. He who requires faith can give faith. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, Grace, gratitude, heaven, life, prayer, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful

From Where I Sit

Posted on October 31, 2023October 30, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Family, fear, friends, gratitude, life, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, wisdom

A New Season

Posted on August 30, 2023August 29, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Seasons come and seasons go. A while back, Judy’s great nephew posted a picture on Facebook. It showed their son, maybe five years old, walking down his driveway. On his back he carries a backpack that is just about as big as he is. He is heading to school—his first day of kindergarten. The first day of school is a big deal, even more so when it is kindergarten, especially for mom and dad. In the foreground of the picture, is a line of toys…I suppose some of his favorites. The message was beautifully clear. As seasons change, as great adventures come along, as each new journey starts, sometimes you must leave what you love behind. It’s part of growing up—it’s part of life. I’m sure out of camera range was mom, and dad too, who watched through teary eyes. Their little boy was growing up. Seasons come and seasons go.

It will happen in just a few weeks—fall will silently arrive. Will you feel it? Will you sense it? Probably not. For most it won’t even be a blip on the calendar. There will be no fanfare, no ticker-tape parade, no sounds trumpeting its arrival. In many ways it will be just a day on the calendar that most of us will probably miss. But not everyone will miss it. The trees won’t. Slowly and surely, their leaves will begin turning a beautiful yellow and red before drifting, floating to the ground. The plants won’t. The shortening days will be telling their leaves it is time to prepare for next spring by preparing for winter’s sleep. And oh yes, the squirrels definitely won’t. They will begin gathering their supply of acorns and pecans, tucking them away for the coming winter. You see, fall is a time of transition…nature’s way of letting us know that another season is soon coming…Winter. And winter, like all the seasons, is something to celebrate—something to embrace.

For me the first day of fall is an event. Every year I look forward to it. I told my wife that part of the mystery of fall is how something so beautiful prepares the way for a time of dormancy and sleep. You might think of it as a time of things dying but you would be wrong. No, it is a time of preparation and transition. Remember…seasons come, and seasons go. And in the beauty of fall we see the promise of spring, of new life. It is that way for nature. It is that way for us. In the fall of our lives, things begin to change, and it is God’s way of preparing us for new life—eternal life with Him. While we do have to walk through the winter of death, just on the other side is the eternal spring of heaven. It is something to celebrate—something to embrace.

So, seasons come and go. It is true in nature, and it is true in life. While the changing seasons sometimes bring challenges, they also bring on exciting new adventures. Changing seasons on the calendar are something to celebrate—something to embrace. It is God’s promise to us that something new is coming. The author of Ecclesiastes reminds us that for everything there is a season—a time for every purpose under heaven. He’s telling us that seasons come, and seasons go. There are times for living and dying, playing, and harvesting, dancing and sitting still. Yes, it is something to celebrate—and something to embrace.

As we casually flip the pages of the calendar, as the clock keeps ticking, leading us toward new seasons and new adventures, don’t get stuck in the cold of winter. No, remember this—spring is on the other side. Every day is a gift from God and is a gentle nudge from our Dearest Daddy that He is preparing new seasons and new adventures for us. Like our first day of kindergarten, it might mean leaving behind some of the things we love, but we can rest in Him knowing that only the best comes from Him and He never, ever gets it wrong. Never. Sleep well tonight knowing that He who creates the days, masters the same. Rest knowing that He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, food, friends, gratitude, life, loving others, Scripture, thankful

Vine Ripened

Posted on July 18, 2022July 17, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Well, every year some nice folks who raised tomatoes will call and offer us some of their bounty. If we don’t have any we would gratefully answer yes and get some. If we still had some on the counter, we would let them know we were good but not to forget us. This year, like everything else from toilet paper to new windows for your new house, tomatoes are rare and expensive. My friend was telling me how he paid $3.19 for one large, vine ripened tomato. Holy moly that is like red gold, but I suppose a good tomato is worth it.

The other day, Judy stopped by a stand and got three small tomatoes and a couple of other veggies and paid about $7.00. That night we had them for supper. We put some salt and pepper on them and then some feta cheese. Oh my, and shoot that thing, they were so good and worth every penny. Well, a couple of days ago, she got a nice large tomato from one of the local grocery stores. I mean it looked really good. So, we sliced it, added salt and pepper, and crowned it with feta cheese and…it was terrible.

I wonder, no I know, that is true in life also. So often we force situations and sometimes force people into relationships, and segments of life for which they simply are not ready. I know it seems our children are forced to grow up so much faster than I was. When that happens, well, in the best case they miss out on some of the great parts of growing up and in the worst case they end up struggling in life because they simply were not ready. But it is not just the kids, but it can also include relationships. We jump into marriages for which we are not ready…sometimes just because the clock is ticking, and we don’t want to end up alone.

I wonder if we can learn something from the tomato and the ones who grow them. I wonder if we can learn the value of just taking our time…time to ripen on the vine and gain the flavor that God intended? I wonder if we can learn to slow down and trust God just a little more? I remember just how disappointed I was when I put that “gassed” tomato in my mouth and found it bland and tasteless. It may have looked better, but it surely didn’t taste better than its vine ripened cousin.