It’s Fall Y’all

The days are shorter.  Morning seems to come slower and evening comes even quicker.  The air is brisk and crisp.  The afternoons are warm.  It’s a time when you leave with a jacket in the morning and then wonder if you should’ve brought shorts for the afternoon.  It’s a time of soft blankets, snuggling on the couch, Friday night football, family movie nights, and even some evenings around the fire pit roasting marshmallows and laughing.  It’s Fall y’all.

Not too long ago I wasn’t a fan of the fall. I’ve always been a summer girl.  I love the sunshine, the warmth and the freedom that it brings.  If I’m honest, I actually dreaded going into the fall. Then, last year, I got to see Fall through the eyes of someone that LOVES the season.  My entire view of Fall began to change.  I realized how much of the Fall I truly love and how much the season speaks to my soul.  It got me to wondering why I never loved this season before.  I mean, really, what’s not to love?  I sit here this morning writing to you listening to the rain fall outside.  My windows are open and the smell of the rain and cool wind fills my kitchen.  My soul is peaceful and at rest.  Even in this season where our days are the fullest, my soul seems to find a different calm than what the summer brings.  I find rest, peace, and sense of joy.  I ask myself, “What changed?”  This has always been the nature of Fall.  It occurred to me:  I changed my focus – my perspective of the Fall.  I took the joys that someone else found in this season and realized how many of them applied to my life.  Suddenly a season I previously dreaded changed to one I completely love.

Then, like He always does, He started to whisper to me.  “This is how I want you to view the seasons of life too.”  I let my heart listen for a bit while He continued on.  Seasons of life change just like the seasons of nature.  They change quickly and sometimes we don’t even realize we have entered a new one until we find ourselves a little discontented and anxious.  Sometimes we anticipate the new season, but we dread it, not wanting to leave the current season, as if a new season doesn’t bring something grand.  What if we took the time to seek out those who have been in our season.  Those who have gone before us.  Who “survived” whatever we feel like is currently unbearable.  Their perspective is different.  They have lived through the season and have learned to love that season.  Or, maybe someone you know is in the same season you are in now and you see them living it with joy, purpose, and passion.  You scratch your head wondering what is different for them.  I encourage you today, seek out perspective from them.  Ask them questions.  Learn what it is they love about the season.  Then take their perspective and see if you can apply it to your current season.  Maybe that’s just what you need to make the shift from anxious to joyful; from dread to excitement.  Maybe a new perspective brings you just that – a new perspective.

As I finish writing to you today, the sun is out.  The rain has passed.  The animals have ventured out of their shelters, the birds are chirping, and the clouds have rolled away.  It’s just as gorgeous as when it was raining a short time ago.  It’s Fall y’all, and I’m LOVING it.

What’s your favorite season?  What do you love about it?  Share with me here.