We are waiting for early autumn. We are waiting to let go. My chickens and I, we have things to release, and early autumn is the best time to begin.
Soon the summer heat will have passed, and cooler breezes will blow against their feathers and against my shirt.
The days are already getting shorter. Gracie and the others need a flashlight in the early morning to find their way safely down their chicken ladder. The sunset is coming sooner and stealing greater bites of our precious time together in the evenings.
But even so, we are waiting, somewhat impatiently, for early autumn.
It is the season to end all that we had tried to start, but failed. It lets us begin the forgetting process so that we can push on towards the cold blankness of winter and then on towards the warm promise of spring.
Early Autumn lets us begin the important forgiving process because often we must gently forgive ourselves for failing, even failing again and again.
Sometimes we must forgive ourselves for choosing the wrong hopes and dreams.
Sometimes we must forgive ourselves for choosing the wrong time for the right hopes and dreams.
Sometimes we must forgive ourselves for not having enough hope, not having enough faith…or just not having.
Sometimes we must forgive ourselves for not wanting to let go of those precious hopes and dreams that did sprout and grow and bear Summer’s fruit…but they were only meant for a season, just one season.
That may be the most difficult kind of forgiving to do.
Then will come Winter when our new hopes and dreams have a chance to incubate. In the darkness of Winter we cover our heads for warmth. With our eyes closed, we shut out the cold and then we dream of the world and the life we want for ourselves and those we love.
Finally will come Spring when we have a new chance to do again what we had tried and failed to do. Spring is a time when we can try to make the things we love fit into our lives one more time. We never give up hope.
But first we must wait for Autumn to have its turn at touching our lives. Autumn’s ground of death and decay lays the moist, rich foundation for our next ambitious attempts at new growth.
There really is a season for everything…and that does include a season for letting go.
My Life With Gracie taught me to gladly let go of what was meant to last for only a season anyway.
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How lovely. And true.
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Thank you. I appreciate that. It looks as if we may still have a little longer to wait…our temperatures today will be summer-like, but that’s how our weather goes here in Coastal Virginia. The saying is, “just give it an hour and it will change!” Meanwhile we do wait for the seasons to change, and hopefully our lives with them. Thanks again. John
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Letting go with open hands and heart is often a challenge for me and yet, leaves do it so gracefully. May I learn from the season and the transition it brings.
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Thank you, Judi. I think if we all were to consider it, many of us would find it a challenge. And it is a bit scary waiting for the buds of spring to appear.
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❤️ Very nice.
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Thank you, Shawn!
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Great post! Thank you!
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I’m so glad you enjoyed reading this, Ruth! I may have one more along this line, not sure yet, still pondering it all. Thanks again!
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John, I enjoyed how all of you are waiting for autumn. The final preparations before winter arrives fills the shortened days with purpose.
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Yes, so very true. Thank you. And the winter can be harsh without that preparation.
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I’m reminded of the father who had a son with a mute spirit in Mark 9. He asked Jesus to heal the boy and “Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’” (9:23-24). That is one of the most pertinent prayers we can pray when times get tough. Your post lays out a beautiful and quaint story of faith that is often looked over: that is, a story of accepting God’s providence in our lives. It is all in His control. Not only that but your emphasis on forgiveness is wonderful. After all, that is why the Christ came into the world: to save sinners, to forgive them, to forgive us. We won’t always succeed in what we do but we forgive and move on.
I hope you all have a great autumn and wonderful spring next season.
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Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful comments. I am learning, slowly but surely, that there is just one main goal in life, and it is Christlikeness. That certainly seems to be the goal to which God’s providence leads in my life most often. Even failures in other lesser goals can still guide me towards that greater goal. Thank you again! John
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