Although I enjoy the change each season brings, fall is among my favorites. I love the crisp coolness and bright blue skies of fall mornings, the subtle infusion of color in trees, the smell of burning leaves, and sounds of fall.
Growing up, the local high school was on the other side of the creek behind our house. The sounds of football and band practices echoed across our backyard, reminders of fall activities.
For me, fall heralds:
Change
Temperature is one of the most noticeable changes fall brings. Fall sends us scrambling for cozy clothing and puts us on the hunt for hearty soup recipes.
Fall is also an opportunity to assess where we are with goals as the year draws to a close and make changes. Take an honest look at your habits and practices. What do you need to change? Where can you redeem time? Change is hard, because we grow accustomed to doing what is easier, yet small adjustments yield big rewards.
Renewal
In the south, fall is a refreshing change from the heat and humidity of summer. The lethargy of late summer gives way to a spark of energy and renewal. Projects we’ve been putting off come to the forefront. Fall brings an opportunity for forward motion.
Anticipation
Fall is a harbinger of holidays. We look forward to gatherings with family and friends, holiday meals, and the warmth and familiarity of traditions and celebrations. For some, holidays on the horizon equal a harried schedule and stress, but with planning, the anticipation of joyful events outweighs the negatives.
Joy
Around the world, fall is the season of ingathering. Those who planted in spring and tended throughout the summer now enjoy reaping the rewards of their labors. Traditionally, fall is a time of celebration and thankfulness for the abundance of the harvest. Even those who aren’t involved in agrarian endeavors commemorate fall with festivals.
For our family, fall is a time of gathering to celebrate birthdays as well as holidays. Those times of laughter and joy around the family table bring heartwarming reminders of loved ones no longer with us, but also the knowledge that, as we celebrate, their love and legacy lives on.
God provides changing seasons to reinvigorate and spur us forward, reminding us difficult life circumstances are only for a season. Each new day, and each new season, provides the opportunity for change, renewal, anticipation, and joy. Welcome fall!
“For everything that happens in life—there is a season, a right time for everything under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 VOICE).
©CandyArrington
Candy Arrington is a writer, blogger, speaker, and freelance editor. She often writes on tough topics with a focus on moving through, and beyond, difficult life circumstances. Candy has written hundreds of articles, stories, and devotionals published by numerous outlets including: Inspiration.org, Arisedaily.com, CBN.com, Healthgrades.com, Care.com, Focus on the Family, NextAvenue.org, CountryLiving.com, and Writer’s Digest. Candy’s books include Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well (Bold Vision Books), When Your Aging Parent Needs Care (Harvest House), and AFTERSHOCK: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B&H Publishing Group).
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