Seasons Changing

The school year is about to begin. We are in the last few days of summer. I’m out of tricks for fun summer activities. I’ve almost worn tired of the pool. I’m eager for the season to change.

The last few days the air has been cooler. The daylight is growing slightly shorter. Slowly we will move to autumn; a time when the leaves change and ultimately die. My soul feels in line with autumn. Much in my life is shining with bright colors, and yet, much of will truly die this year. Mary will graduate. Bob will graduate. Katie will start middle school. We will likely move. It would be easy to move to winter and feel sad about all that must die. It is also tempting to move on to spring and think about all that is going to grow anew. Yet, I sit in the beauty of autumn, basking at the colorful leaves in my life. I am aware that winter will come and perhaps be harsh, but today it is the beauty of those who surround me that fills my heart.

Gratitude is emotion that is in the forefront. There have been many weeks in the past 3 years when I didn’t know if we would make it to this point. I didn’t know if our marriage would hold the strain of so many life changes. I didn’t know if the children would handle the changes. I didn’t know if I could.

To arrive at the autumn of this journey is to feel a deeply grateful heart. We have been supported in big and little ways. Our families and friends have supported us even when our life decisions seemed utterly absurd. It’s overwhelming at times to comprehend. The many times we flirted with Bob quitting the seminary process, yet something always emerged to lift us from the bottom of the pit. Kind words, dinner invitations, airplane tickets, prayer, encouragement. All these kindnesses have brought us to this place.

Yes, winter will smart this year. I’m sure of that. Spring will be exciting and scary. Summer will be seeing our oldest in full bloom. But today, I’m thrilled to be entering the fall thankful for the richness of colors in my life.