fall

For Everything There Is A Season

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven; a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Many of us right now are in a season of waiting and trusting God in the unusual circumstances of this year. For me, ironically, this year has been passing way too quickly, and way too slowly at the same time. While some days seem to have dragged on, the months have been going too fast.

Under normal circumstances, we would have taken a few trips, visited family and friends, and enjoyed the different seasons more fully. Although Florida’s seasons aren’t very different, we usually get to experience spring, summer, fall, or winter up north while visiting family.

Since I had a lot of time to think, I started remembering some of the special things that I liked about the different seasons while growing up in a northern state. This time I decided that fall (autumn) was my favorite season.

Autumn has such wonderful sights, smells, and sounds, as well as some great memories for me (outside of often getting a throat or chest cold as the weather was changing). So what are some of the things that I have enjoyed about the fall season up north?

Of course, the brilliant colors of the leaves (golds, browns, oranges, red, and rust-colors) especially the maple tree leaves as the weather grew colder

The flavor of fresh pure maple syrup (that wasn’t very expensive up north)

One of my favorite fall activities was to rake up big piles of leaves as they fell off the trees, climb the trees, and then jump into the leaf piles. I liked to feel and hear the rustling of the leaves.

I was one of those unusual kids who really liked school a lot, and I really enjoyed getting new school supplies, a pair of shoes, and a few new outfits for school each year. I also enjoyed the times that we were assigned creating a leaf project for science class. (Perhaps that is why I chose teaching as a career)

Apple season- fresh crisp apples, apple cider (hot or cold), apple pie, and fall spices

Harvest time- especially fresh corn on the cob and pumpkins

Clear night skies with so many visible stars and full harvest moons

Warm days and cool nights to enjoy hot chocolate or herbal teas (with an occasional visit from Jack Frost)

Fireplaces and wood stoves on cold nights

Corn Mazes and fall festivals, and the beginning of football season

Birthdays (mine, my sister’s, my mom’s are all autumn birthdays)

My favorite Holiday- Thanksgiving (especially because of the big family reunions with aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. that we had every year while Grandpa was still living), and some of my favorite foods (pumpkin pie, nut breads, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and of course, turkey)

Other holidays like Labor Day (last day for our family picnic before school began), Grandparents Day, Columbus Day (I loved all the school projects), Veterans Day

So what is your favorite season, and why?

Seasons of Life

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “For everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” Steve and Annie Chapman wrote and sang a song about seasons over 30 years ago.  If you’ve never heard the song, “Seasons of Life”, you should take a few minutes to listen to it today. The song compares the stages of life to the seasons of the year.

“Spring” represents youth when most people are healthy, energetic, and playful; but the young so quickly change to “summer”, and have new interests and responsibilities; then comes “fall”, the time when most people are busy with work and raising their families; lastly comes “winter”, a time of growing old, reminding me of what Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 12:1-7:

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,
Before the difficult days come,
And the years draw near when you say,
“I have no pleasure in them”:
2 While the sun and the light,
The moon and the stars,
Are not darkened,
And the clouds do not return after the rain;
3 In the day when the keepers of the house tremble,
And the strong men bow down;
When the grinders cease because they are few,
And those that look through the windows grow dim;
4 When the doors are shut in the streets,
And the sound of grinding is low;
When one rises up at the sound of a bird,
And all the daughters of music are brought low.
5 Also they are afraid of height,
And of terrors in the way;
When the almond tree blossoms,
The grasshopper is a burden,
And desire fails.
For man goes to his eternal home,
And the mourners go about the streets.

6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed,
Or the golden bowl is broken,
Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain,
Or the wheel broken at the well.
7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was,
And the spirit will return to God who gave it.

The days ahead  for someone in this season of life are usually fewer than the days behind. They have lots of memories, but their bodies begin to slow down and wear out. Although I am young in spirit and quite healthy, I am in the early stages of this season. However, I still have such peace, joy, and hope, because as the last line of that beautiful song says, “We’ll see Spring again in heaven, and it will last forever, forever, forever!” What does Spring remind you of? Flowers like daffodils?  New life, like the birth of a baby? Cherry blossoms? Or the Resurrection?