Seasons – Empty Chairs & New Seats

We are in the heart of the holiday season, and while I cherish all things Thanksgiving and Christmas, this post isn’t about the holidays. Instead, it’s about embracing the season of life in which we find ourselves.

Recently, I was scrolling through Facebook memories from 2016 and came across a photo from a large staff event I attended years ago. I was struck by how many of those faces, mine included, have since moved on from that organization. Their chairs were emptied and later filled by new team members stepping into their own seasons. It was a reminder that seasons come and go and seats empty and fill.

The same ebb and flow often applies to our friendships. Seats at coffee shops once occupied by cherished friends in one season may sit empty in the next. Maybe you’re grieving the end of those friendships, still waiting for new ones to blossom. Or perhaps you’re the friend who moved on, leaving behind a chapter of shared laughter and connection.

Life is filled with seasons of both full and empty chairs. I vividly remember the first Thanksgiving after our children had graduated college and moved out on their own. Waking up that morning to a quiet house—with only my husband there to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade—was a shock. The couch where we used to cuddle together as a family remained empty. While they both came home later that day, the season had shifted.

But with that change came new blessings. Both of our children are now married to incredible spouses, and our family table has grown with two more seats to fill.

The hardest empty chair, however, is the one left by the loss of a loved one. At our son and daughter-in-law’s wedding, we honored my dad with an empty chair, a poignant reminder of his legacy and presence. His seat will remain empty until the day I dance with him in heaven. These kinds of empty chairs require deep grieving before we can fully accept their permanence.

And then, there are new chairs that bring unexpected joy. This year, we pulled out a 33-year-old Fisher-Price wooden high chair from the attic. After a good cleaning, it’s now being used by our precious grandson. A new season has arrived, bringing with it fresh memories and immense gratitude.

The Bible reminds us in Ecclesiastes 3 that there is a season for everything, ordained by God. In the midst of empty and full chairs, we can find strength in the truth that He alone is unchanging. Whether it’s a new career seat, the quiet of an empty nest, or the unimaginable loss of a spouse, God remains our constant. Only He can fill the voids in our hearts, bringing fresh joy through new relationships, growing families, or even cherished memories.

No matter what season you’re experiencing, allow God to fill the emptiness in your mind, heart, and life. Each season, no matter how abundant or barren, is meaningless without His perfect love. He is Emmanuel—God with us.

This holiday season, ask God to guide you to sit with those whose chairs, arms, or hearts feel empty. Offer them the presence of His love and the hope of His unchanging promises.