The empty nest years can be a “tight ring season.”
That’s a term coined by Marci Seither and her husband after a customer hired the Seithers’ sawmill in Northern California to remove a huge tree from the spot where their new home would be built. Feeling it a shame to lose such a beautiful tree, the homeowners planned to recycle the lumber by using it in the house’s construction.
But once they cut down the tree, they discovered the wood was too weak to use. The rings were too far apart. After years of soaking rain and ample sunshine, the tree had grown big and lush, but it hadn’t developed much inner strength.
Tight rings reveal seasons of heat and drought where a tree slows its growth, so it can dig its roots deeper into the soil for nourishment. Tight rings indicate stress, but they create strength.
The concept of tight tree rings has become a metaphor for Marci Seither and her husband. When their family experiences some kind of stress, they tell each other, “This’ll be a tight-ring season.”
One of the most unexpected “tight-ring seasons” they’ve experienced is becoming empty nesters. Jean and I can relate. Both of our boys are launching into their futures, and their mother and I are still adjusting to the changes.
When the moment comes and your child leaves home, how will you fill the empty spaces in your home? How will you fill the empty spaces in your heart?
If you’re on the verge of an empty nest, join me for Focus on the Family with Jim Daly. I’m talking with Marci Seither about how you can prepare for what’s ahead. She has great advice for:
- Creating a smooth transition into the empty nest years.
- Helping siblings cope with the loss of a brother or sister who’s moving out.
- Deciding how to handle children who have moved out and want to return home.