Only For A Season

Nobody tells you that one day, those little grandchildren who couldn't wait to spend time with Grandpa and Grandma will grow up and have busy lives of their own. In this personal episode of Only for a Season , I look back on more than 20 years of being a grandfather to five wonderful grandchildren. From sleepovers and fishing trips to summer visits and bike rides, those years gave Ruth and me...

Have you ever wished you could sit down with your dad and ask him questions about his younger years? In this personal episode of Only for a Season , I reflect on my father's journey from Puerto Rico to Cleveland, Ohio, as a young man. He came without his brothers or sisters, spoke very little English, and had to build a life in an unfamiliar place. Now, at 67 years old, I find myself wondering abo...

We all have good intentions. We mean to make the call, visit the friend, help someone who’s struggling, or thank the person who did something kind for us. But sometimes we never follow through. In this episode of Only for a Season, I talk about the difference between meaning to do something good and actually doing it. Using a simple conversation I had over coffee, along with several Bible verses,...

What’s on your camera roll? If you went back through the last year or two of pictures and videos on your phone, what would you find? In this episode of Only for a Season, I talk about why the photos we take can become some of the most meaningful things we own as the years go by. Pictures of our spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, family gatherings, vacations, and even ordinary days can bring...

Some things we inherit are worth far more than money. In this episode, I share the story of a set of Lifetime cookware that belonged to my mom, pots and pans she used for decades to prepare meals for our family. After she passed away, they became ours. Every time Ruth or I use them, they bring back memories of Mom, her kitchen, her hands preparing meals, and the care she put into even the ordinary...

How many real friends do you actually have? Not acquaintances. Not people you see at church, at the gym, or through a hobby. I mean the kind of friend you can call when life gets hard, someone you can be honest with, pray with, and trust. In this episode, I talk about friendship between men, how those circles often get smaller as we get older, and why having even one or two close friends can be a...

In 1998, fear took over my life. A serious health warning triggered anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. I struggled to sleep, think clearly, work, or enjoy the things around me. What began as fear soon became a storm that affected every part of my life. In this episode, I share the personal testimony I recently gave to a small group of men. I talk about the people God placed in my path, includ...

In this episode of Only for a Season , I’m joined by Luis Martinez, a Minister and Elder at House of Praise, who has been married for nearly 50 years and has officiated weddings. Together, we talk about the marriage covenant from a Christian biblical view, why couples should not enter marriage lightly, how two families become connected through marriage, and what the traditional marriage vows truly...

n this Father’s Day episode of Only for a Season , Mel reflects on the lives of two men who helped shape his family, his own father and his father-in-law, Luis Gabriel Sr. Through memories of illness, faith, family meals, prayer, obedience, laughter, and love, this episode honors the quiet strength and lasting legacy these fathers left behind. Mel shares how both men modeled a deep trust in God an...

This episode is a special edited version of a heartfelt conversation I had with my oldest granddaughter, Katelynne, about what it means to love family across the miles. When I first recorded this conversation, I thought the story was mostly about how Ruth and I felt as grandparents when our grandchildren moved far away. But after listening again, I realized the deeper story was Katelynne’s. Her wo...

In this heartfelt episode of Only for a Season , Mel reflects on a small plaque that hung in his childhood kitchen on West 43rd Street in Cleveland, Ohio. It read, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” That simple message became more than words on a wall. Through the quiet example of his parents praying, reading Scripture, and faithfully living out their faith, Mel saw what it meant to...

In this special Mother’s Day episode of Only for a Season , Mel Cruzado shares a heartfelt reflection on the women who have shaped his life and family. He honors his wife Ruth of 46 years, along with their daughters Jennifer and Michele, and talks about the quiet strength, sacrifice, and love that mothers carry every day. From creating a home filled with warmth and tradition, to raising children a...

In this heartfelt episode of Only for a Season , Mel sits down with his firstborn granddaughter, Katelynne, for a deeply personal conversation about loving family across distance. From early childhood memories and summer visits to the emotional weight of missed everyday moments, this episode explores what it truly means to stay connected when grandchildren grow up far away. Together, they reflect...

In this deeply personal episode of Only for a Season , I share a moment from years ago that has never left me. It was a simple situation. A decision my teenage daughter made… after I had asked her to wait. What followed was not an argument. There were no raised voices. No harsh words. Just a look… and a response that would shape both of us in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time. This episod...

Have you ever walked past someone and just knew something was wrong? Maybe it was a stranger on a trail. Maybe it was someone sitting alone at a restaurant. Maybe it is a friend you have not checked on in a while. In this episode we talk about what it looks like to actually slow down and pay attention to the hurting people around us. We dig into how to pray for the people in your circle who are go...

In this episode, Mel Cruzado shares a simple marriage habit that Ruth and he have practiced for nearly 47 years: making intentional time for each other through regular date nights. With warmth and practical encouragement, Mel speaks to young couples in the busy parenting years and reminds them that a strong home is built on a nurtured marriage, not just a full calendar. You will hear why this matt...

Loving Grandchildren Near and Far Becoming a grandparent changes your heart in ways you never expect. In this episode of Only for a Season , I share the story of becoming a grandparent for the first time and how that love only grew as our family expanded. I talk about the joy of holding a grandchild for the first time, the pain of distance when some grandchildren move far away, and the lessons lea...

As 2025 comes to a close, many of us are carrying the weight of different seasons. Some were filled with joy and answered prayers. Others were marked by loss, waiting, or quiet struggle. In this end-of-year episode, I reflect on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 and the truth that there is a season for everything. We talk about how God is present in both the good and the difficult moments, how no season is waste...

In this episode of Only for a Season, we talk about something many fathers struggle with but rarely discuss. The power of asking for forgiveness. As dads, we carry a responsibility to guide, protect, and speak life into our children. Yet there are moments when frustration gets the best of us, and words slip out that should never have been spoken. I share a personal story from the season when my da...

In this episode, I share a personal story about a moment when the Holy Spirit used a complete stranger to speak hope into my darkest season. We talk about the nudges God gives us to pray, to speak life, and to slow down long enough to notice the needs in front of us. If you’ve ever hesitated when God prompted you to act, or if you’re walking through a heavy season yourself, this episode will remin...

I grew up without cousins nearby. No family gatherings. No aunts or uncles dropping in. It was just our small family circle, and that was my normal. Looking back, I realize how much that shaped the way I saw connection and family. Then I married Ruth, and her world looked completely different. She has cousins and aunts and uncles on both sides of her family, and they have always been close. They g...

In this episode of Only for a Season , Mel Cruzado speaks directly to men about one of the most overlooked marks of strength, knowing when to stay silent. Real leadership in marriage isn’t about control or pride; it’s about respect, restraint, and protecting your wife’s dignity. Mel shares how true maturity shows up in the quiet moments when a man chooses patience over pride and privacy over publi...

In this heartfelt episode, Mel shares the true story of how he and his wife Ruth went from newlyweds filled with dreams… to facing unemployment, bankruptcy, and fear — and how faith carried them through. Laid off just three months after their wedding, Mel found himself questioning everything — his future, his purpose, and even God’s plan. But through every closed door, God was quietly working behi...

In this special episode, host Mel Cruzado shares the story behind Only for a Season — how years of hesitation and self-doubt gave way to obedience and purpose. After nearly 38 years with GE Healthcare , Mel retired at age 60 and began reflecting on the many seasons of his life — as a husband of 46 years to Ruth , a father to Jennifer and Michele , and a grandfather to five. Through walks, prayer,...

In this episode of Only for a Season , Mel Cruzado reflects on the biblical command to honor our father and mother, and the promise of blessing that follows. Through practical encouragement, Mel shares what it means to love, respect, and involve our parents in our lives—whether through helping in times of need, making that phone call, or simply sharing time together. Discover how honoring our pare...