and a season for every activity under Heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
The crunch of leaves beneath my feet. The scent of apples in the air. The chilly kiss of the wind on my cheeks. Plump pumpkins litter gardens and porch steps.
Autumn is here.
As much as I hated to, I had to turn on the heat in the house over the weekend. The hillside is vibrant with color, but many trees in our neighborhood are still green. As the sunlight becomes less available, the trees will change colors quickly over the next several weeks and flutter to the ground.
I love autumn and the changing seasons, but I hate being cold. I pulled out my sweaters, fleeces, and long-sleeved shirts this weekend and packed away the shorts and sandals for another season. Although I enjoy the beauty of the snow, I’m not looking forward to the freezing temperatures that accompany it. I understand the changing seasons are vital for the regeneration of plants and trees, but my family will here me whine more than once about how cold I am.
This morning, during my morning Bible time, I read about Paul in Philippians and where he talks about being content whatever the circumstances. I’ve gone through some pretty tough times in my life, but I know I haven’t shown contentment in all situations like Paul talks about. Instead of whining about the cold, I need to add another layer and be thankful God has provided me with a warm house to shelter me from the cold.
I often have problems being content where I am, as that sometimes goes against the desire to better myself, to make life better for my family and for me. By having more in my life, I reason, I can give more out of it. So I try to balance being satisfied with where I am, while trying to attain a "higher vantage point," so to speak.
My mom always said she liked winter better than summer because you can always put on more clothes, but there's only so much you can take off.
It's good to see you've done something with your blog. The switch from rightie to leftie is nice. Hope school, family, health, work, and writing are all in good states.