Fall can bring pumpkins and foliage — and serenity if we really work at it

A little nip in the air and a glance at the foliage is a dead-give-away that fall has arrived.

It is the season we’re all ready for after a long, hot summer; one that brings with it colorful orange pumpkins, red, green and yellow apples and orange and yellow leaves decorating our trees — a glorious time of the year.

It is one of four seasons of varying colors and temperatures that evoke the changes in our lifestyle and seasonal activities. We accept the changes and adapt.

Some changes aren’t necessarily welcome. For instance, does getting older mean we have to become more accepting of the changes our bodies experience every day? Among them are those we see when we arise in the morning, look in the mirror and spot another gray hair and find yesterday’s wrinkles look more like craters today. And no, I’m not looking forward to gingerly stepping on the scales with my stiff, aching joints and noticing an extra pound has been added. That’s definitely not a change I want to accept.

Maybe we need to start the day by repeating the Serenity Prayer:

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

Perhaps there are changes you have to deal with concerning your job or work place. Or maybe they are at church on Sunday mornings where you have become complacent in worshiping in a sedentary service with traditional style hymns. Then young, new members join and bring with them singing choruses and a contemporary style of music with exuberance. We older members bristle at first, hesitant to embrace this change in music, until we face the fact that our congregation is growing and enjoying the fellowship of these new-comers. We know that all styles of music — “making a joyful noise unto the Lord” — should be accepted joyously and with gusto.

Sometimes, we ask ourselves, “Why can’t things just stay the same in our comfort zone.”

But there are changes that take place that we have no control over. There are times when it seems like everything around the home goes ‘kaput’ at the same time — appliances, cars, even ourselves.

Why can’t everything come with a lifetime warranty, including our life?

But there’s a rainbow breaking through the rain clouds because there is one thing that never changes, that does have a lifetime warranty.

That’s the love of God.

“The love of God, how rich and pure, how measureless and strong, it shall forevermore endure, the saints and angels song.”

And this is what we should be most thankful for when we ask grace over our family Thanksgiving meal.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This story was originally published October 31, 2017 at 7:18 AM with the headline "Fall can bring pumpkins and foliage — and serenity if we really work at it."