October’s Song . . .

Did you ever wonder, as I have, why no one has ever written an “October Song?”

October, with its singular beauty . . . the colorful leaves, red, yellow and orange, mixed with the green on the trees; the harvesting of fruits and vegetables from fields once green, now the promise of good food on our tables; the cicada song, which, like clockwork, falls on our ears in the fall. All are reminders of God’s promise about the seasons, which we find in the Bible (Genesis 8:22 NIV):

seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease.

That’s such a beautiful promise, for those who believe. It lets us know who’s in charge of the climate, and how cold or how hot our days are going to be (whether in July or January). And to me (one who’s not in the least scientific), it seems the perfect answer to those who are concerned about climate change. The Lord is in control. And we can trust Him.

Thinking about seasons reminds me of one of my books, Through the Leaves that Fall. Sub-title: Glimpses of God in the Seasons of Life. This is a book about the seasons of our lives. Just as in nature we each have our spring, our summer, our fall and our winter. Quoting from the introduction:

“ . . . And, as with nature’s foliage, each year of our life produces its own crop of leaves—those unique and varied experiences that help to shape us and determine who we are—each relevant to, and indicative of, the season.

Like the leaves of a tree, that sprout and bud in the spring, grow and mature through the summer, drop from the tree in the fall, and leave the tree bare in the winter—the leaves of our lives reflect the seasons. Some are mediocre, not very colorful, soon forgotten; yet some are a vibrant red, orange, or yellow, so striking the image lingers. And through it all, God is there.”

I struggled to write this book during the years of my husband’s illness; and it wasn’t completed until after he passed away. This small book has been probably my most popular, and I am most grateful.

I am grateful too, as I see the beauty around us in the colorful leaves of October—for God’s promise that the seasons will never cease. This is October’s song.

Grace and peace to you,

Mary Emma