Falling . . . Floating . . . Twirling . . . Twisting . . . Swirling . . . Flitting . . . Drifting . . . Turning

As I walked on this warm autumn day, there was a cool breeze blowing the leaves all around me. As I looked up, one particular leaf was twirling as it flew to the ground. The leaves were hitting me on the head and hitting the camera as they drifted by. There was a beautiful blue sky in the background as I watched them.

The sound of these falling leaves reminded me of a crackling fire. I enjoy walking through the fallen leaves and hearing the rustle. It kind of makes me feel like a kid again!

Even though I enjoy seeing the leaves as they fall, they are a reminder of the days to come when the trees will be bare. The beautiful colors of autumn are only here for a short season. We all go through seasons in our life. Some bring us joy; some bring us pain.

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven: (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV)

This familiar verse and those that follow (2-8) give us an extensive list of times that we encounter in our lives. They are paired as opposites that can help us to see that even though the negative things are there, for each there is a possibility of something positive.

Only after the leaves have fallen can we see the shapes of the branches on the winter trees, especially when they are highlighted by a lovely sunrise or sunset behind them. Once the leaves are gone, more sunlight can pass through to brighten and warm us as winter comes.

Whatever season you may be experiencing as you read this, know that it will pass. Seasons come and seasons go. But take time to read and reflect on God’s promise in Ecclesiastes 3, that there is a time for every purpose under heaven. My prayer is that you will enter a time and season of peace, love, laughter, and dancing!

A time to be born, And a time to die;
A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;
³ A time to kill, And a time to heal;
A time to break down, And a time to build up;
⁴ A time to weep, And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
⁵ A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
⁶ A time to gain, And a time to lose;
A time to keep, And a time to throw away;
⁷ A time to tear, And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
⁸ A time to love, And a time to hate;
A time of war, And a time of peace. ( Ecc. 3:2-8 NLT)