October generally confirms that the Fall season has arrived. Fall officially starts in September with the autumn equinox, but somehow, it never seems much like Fall in September. In October, however, the leaves have begun to change, the nights have cooled, jackets have been unpacked, and pumpkin everything has flooded the markets. These things make it feel like Fall.
Now, we don’t experience Fall in Florida like the northerners do. Our leaves don’t really change, temperatures don’t drop too much, and we generally save the jackets for wintertime. But the die-hard transplants from up north (which most of us are) still get out our fall decorations, eat everything pumpkin, and enjoy that we can leave our windows open during the day.
I do miss seeing the fall foliage, but often it was short-lived. The leaves would start turning, and my anticipation would build. But then, just as the leaves were almost at the height of their color, a rainstorm would come along and knock them all off the trees. I would feel cheated. One year we had a freak snowstorm while the leaves were still on the trees. It wreaked total havoc! There was no color that year!
It has always seemed to me that the sky in the Fall is a richer blue than any other time of year. Maybe it’s the contrast to the leaves’ color? Maybe it’s just me? Whatever! Fall, nonetheless, is usually a pleasant time of year for both the north and the south.
Fall reminds us of many different things. Of course, school has resumed after the summer break. For lots of folks, it is football season. Many look forward to apple picking, pumpkin picking and Halloween. For me, Fall culminates with the Thanksgiving holiday.
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it is steeped in our country’s history and filled with many fond memories of gatherings with family and friends. Of course, it is a time that we focus on giving thanks and remembering to be thankful. Giving thanks is vital to our wellbeing. It is a wonderfully uplifting way to live. There is always something that we can be thankful for!
Being thankful is important to our frame of mind because it reminds us to appreciate the life we have. Our lives are not perfect. They may not be always easy. Everyone faces hardships or heartaches at times. But even if we’re having a rough time right now, we can still find something to be thankful for. And if we are deliriously happy right now, we cannot forget to give thanks.
Take a deep breath. You can always be thankful for that breath. Why? Because if things are bad right now, as long as you have breath, they can get better. And if things are going well right now, it’s good to be alive.
The Bible exhorts us to be thankful. And we know that whatever God exhorts us to do is of great benefit to us. He never asks us to do anything that isn’t good for us! God doesn’t remind us to be thankful because He needs that recognition. He reminds us of this because the ‘attitude of gratitude’ helps us.
You might say to me, “Terri, my life sucks right now. How can I be thankful for that?” I would reply, “We aren’t thankful for the bad things, but we are thankful because God promised that He would never leave us nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5) God makes a way where there is no way! His ability is not limited. He is omnipotent and He is the Almighty God, Who is bountiful and full of blessings. God has the answers to all our questions.
If we are sick, we’re not thankful for the sickness, but we are thankful that by Jesus Christ’s stripes we were healed. (1 Peter 2:24) If we are broken hearted, we are not thankful for the pain, but we are thankful that God is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart and saves such as are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18) If we are in need, we are not thankful for that need, but we are thankful that God said He will liberally supply everything we need. (Philippians 4:19) The list goes on. If we keep our minds focused on the promises of God, we can always be thankful, because God assures (and reassures) us that He will take care of us. No matter what we’re facing, God is bigger. And miracles do happen! As my friend often says, “God’s got this!”
It says in Philippians 4:6…
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
The word ‘careful’ means “to be troubled with cares or anxious”. We do not need to be anxious about our situation because we can pray to God, Who is able to support us, to defend us, and to supply our every need. Knowing that God is our Father and He loves us more than we can imagine, is certainly something to be thankful for regardless of our circumstances.
No matter what is going on in our lives, whether good or bad, we cannot forget that we have the hope of Christ’s return. We are going to live FOREVER with God and Christ and ALL the believers! First Thessalonians 4:17 ends with, “and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Think about that! I’d say that’s an exciting reason to be very thankful!!
We do not have to wait for November 23rd to be thankful. Nor do we need to limit our thankfulness to one day a year. We can live each day with a thankful heart. We can teach our minds to look for the reasons to be thankful and hold tight to those reasons. We can look around and see the little things that give us pleasure and be thankful for those. We can trust that God will fulfill His promises and be very thankful for those promises.
Enjoy Fall and the blessings it brings. Get your pumpkins and gourds, your mums and sunflowers. Eat your pumpkin pie, cake, cookies, bread, muffins, and donuts. Drink your pumpkin spiced coffee and your pumpkin ale. Dress up for Halloween. Give candy to trick or treaters. Pick apples. Open your windows. And most of all – enjoy all the reasons you have for being thankful!
Note to my readers: I am thankful that you take time out of your busy life to read my blog!