Once Again, Fall . . .Some Heart-felt Thoughts

FALL COLORS IN FLORIDA: (These pictures were taken on my phone, so they aren't the best!!) We do have changing colors for Fall in Florida! This beautiful Golden Raintree starts with bright yellow blossoms, then progresses to pink/peach little papery "Japanese lantern-ish" blooms. The tree in the picture is magnificent -- part yellow, part pink. There are quite a few in our area and make a wonderful Fall picture!
I believe this is a butterfly bush (Molly is going to confirm!) It is brilliant red, and there are also quite a few of these in our neighborhood.
Even though my phone camera didn't do them justice, these grapefruits from our grove are actually bright yellow. We have a few still on from last year's harvest, and the new harvest has a few beginning to ripen, although most are still pretty green. Just a few of the colors of Fall in central Florida!

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Genesis 8:22

I do love fall. Or autumn, whichever you prefer. I love this time of year, especially in the regions of the country where it is so noticeable. Changing leaves, cooling temperatures . . . Harvest Home. I love autumn, not only because it evokes a feeling of crisp yet cozy security, but because of the Clearly Seen biblical principle it so vibrantly portrays.

As cliché as it sounds, there are truly seasons of life. Fresh, dewy Spring, when anything seems possible and all things seem poised to encourage blossoming life. Summer, when growth and fruitfulness are at their delightful peak. Then Fall . . . the time, not only of Harvest but of preparation for the corn of wheat to fall into the ground and die, to rest through the Winter. A season to lay a foundation for a new generation when Spring once more returns.

I am in the Fall of my life. What beautiful memories I have of my Springtime and Summer! How affirming it is to look back at the awesome Providence of God in my life – preparing me for the fruitfulness He called me to, and then providing and guiding through those years of growth unto Harvest.

Now the Fall is here, and the Lord seems to be pressing into my heart a sense of urgency, not only to rejoice in the bountiful Harvest He has blessed my life with, but also to prepare for the Winter, the coming night, when man’s work is done.

What a Harvest our children have been – all living for the Lord and raising godly seed. And what a blessing that our grandchildren are such a beautiful picture of God’s laws of sowing and reaping being lived out in real life. One of those laws is “you always reap MORE than you sow!” The grandchildren have a much clearer biblical worldview than we did at their age. They do not struggle with many of the world’s tugs and pulls that we did at their age. Seeing this outworking of His laws during this lifetime is a reward of coming to the season of Autumn.

Now it is time to press in before the Winter sets in – not only to enjoy the Harvest, but to help prepare the next generation for the new Springtime. God’s people must be diligent to protect their seed corn. And it is not enough to merely shield, but we must prepare them and lay down what foundation we are able. Psalm 78 is instructive for older generations. It is a duty as well as a joy to rehearse the faithfulness of God to our grandchildren. Proverbs 13:22 give us admonition to prepare our grandchildren physically as we are able, also.

As my years fly by, I begin to understand in a personal way how important it is that “the memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.” (Prov. 10:7) When the next Springtime rolls around, the memory of the just and godly grandparent is blessed, as the coming generations look back in gratitude and honor for the wisdom and principles carefully sown into their hearts.

What a sad, sad state “grandparent-hood” is in today, when so many do not even know their grandchildren, let alone place precious treasure into their hearts day by day!! It is easy to see how true this proverb can be – there is nothing for the following generations to call blessed, and the name of the grandparents just rots in the ground, never bringing forth fruit in a multi-generational way!

Well, as usual, these thoughts just kept coming and overflowed! May the Lord encourage us to “work for the night is coming, when man’s work is done!”

“All the world is God’s own field, fruit unto His praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown unto joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear;
Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.”
-- Henry Alford