"My Wynter Season" with Jonathan Pitts

Unexplained Plans 

In July 2018, Jonathan and Wynter had just moved from Dallas to Nashville and celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary. Less than a month later, Jonathan sent in the final manuscript for their book Emptied. Four hours later, Wynter’s heart stopped beating and she passed into eternity at only 38 years old.  

Walking Through Grief 

As Wynter took her last breath on the emergency room table, Jonathan whispered loving words in her ear, “It’s okay babe. I love you. I will take care of the girls. You don’t have to worry about them. I love you with all that I am, and you are the best thing that ever happened to me.” Then, Jonathan sang How Great Thou Art. “I determined to spend one last moment with her in a way she always loved. It was my best way to say goodbye” he explains. Wynter’s Uncle Tony Evans was with him as they faced Jonathan’s daughters, he told them that mommy went home to be with Jesus. They embraced and cried while singing praise and worship songs to Jesus. In their most difficult moments, God was there with comfort. 

In his book, My Wynter Season, Jonathan shares his journey through grief and opens the book with a quote from Oswald Chambers about God drawing near to those who are suffering: 

To those who have had no agony Jesus says, ‘I have nothing for you; stand on your own two feet, square your own shoulders. I have come for the man who knows he has a bigger handful than he can cope with, who knows there are forces he cannot touch; I will do everything for him if he will let me. Only let a man grant he needs it, and I will do it for him.

Soon after Wynter died, Jonathan thought he could do it all—pastor a growing church, father his four girls, and manage their schedules as well as his own. It didn’t take long for him to realize that he couldn’t go it alone. “I had to let go of my self-sufficiency and allow God and His people to help me,” he explains.

As the days led up her the funeral, Jonathan was surrounded by loving family members but needed some normalcy, so he went for a run. As he pulled up his music playlist an unexpected song came on. It was Pastor Stephen Furtick’s voice to music. He was speaking about how Jacob’s love for Rachael. Furtick said, “So, Jacob is over her tomb. He set up a pillar. He didn’t deny the pain of loss. Jacob set up a pillar and to this day that pillar marks Rachel’s tomb. HE will never be the same. But then the Bible says that Jacob moved on.” Jonathan shares, “That unexpected voice on my playlist had been just what I needed in order to asses where I was...and where I needed to go...With all of my pain, I knew I needed to keep moving on."

Exit Strategy

Before Wynter passed, Jonathan woke up for his daily run and quickly glanced at his emails. He noticed a message labeled, “Do you have an exit strategy?” He made mental note to check it later and assumed it was probably about leadership transition. When he opened the message and read the text, Wynter was gone. The exit strategy was not about leadership transition, it was about the transition from this world to the next. It emphasized the importance of remembering that our time here is only temporary. We will all die someday so we must not forget to make the most of our time here and when it’s time to let go, God will be with us every step of the way.

Coming Into Spring

Today, Jonathan and his girls are doing well. They will always miss Wynter but they know that God is leading and guiding them along the way. 

Wynter's Legacy 

For Girls Like You, founded by Wynter Pitts, started as a desire for resources for her four daughters. In just a few short years, Wynter created a national magazine, devotionals, books, and many other tools for girls and their parents. The Pitts Family is devoted to carrying on Wynter’s legacy and her vision for this ministry. They are committed to helping you in your journey to grow in God and raise your own godly daughters.