The heavens declare the glory of God.
Psalm 19:1
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‘Joy...in the Morning’
When The ‘Bugs’ Are Gone
By Dotty Moore
Fall. You either love it or you don’t. If you’re like me, you’re
on the side that loves it!
Shuffling and crunching through the fallen leaves the other
day I mused as to why fall is one of my two favorite seasons
of the year, the other being spring.
In autumn, there is the vivid array of colors to ooh and ah over. It’s as though the Artist dropped His palette and the paint splattered everywhere. Of course, God didn’t drop anything because with Him as the Creator nothing happens by accident. Even the spectacular sunsets of fall and the crisp refreshing air are not incidental byproducts; they are, in and of themselves, displays of God’s handiwork.
Another reason to love fall, oh yes, is because along with that first frost comes the absence of gnats circling your head, trying to invade your eyes, ears, hair, and even your nose and mouth. I call their autumn retreat a real plus. When those swarming squads of gnats disappear I don’t mind having to don the knitted cap and zip up the jacket.
Universally the season of autumn has been likened to the latter years of a person’s life. Leaves turn colors and drop off; hair turns gray and falls out. Flowers fade; the eyes grow dim. The earth cools; the body slows. But whether we’re speaking of the world of nature or of the human physical body, none of the changes is cause for alarm. All of it is, as it should be. God planned and ordained the seasons of life, both in nature and in human life. We can’t change it and we shouldn’t try. Instead we can embrace the benefits while we confront the drawbacks.
Just like the seasonal retreat of the annoying gnats, late in life we notice other bugs are gone, too. Well, at least some of them. As we age we don’t let so many things – trivial things – “bug” us like they used to. Historically we call this a mellowing and many of us bemoan that we didn’t mellow sooner. Perhaps this too is a “seasonal” bonus.
God knows, it enhances the beauty of the waning years. And during these years when things begin to fall out, droop, wear out and slow down, we’ll take all of the added beauty we can get!
For some, the aging process is a real test of faith and endurance. You either accept it with grace and dignity, and with a smile, too, or you grow more miserable as time slips away.
Seasons don’t reverse themselves. Life is not lived retroactively. What’s gone is gone; but what is yet to come might be the best ever.
Dear Lord, growing old is no laughing matter, and yet, why shouldn’t it be? You’ve said in Your Word in Proverbs 17:22 that “a merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” In reality, whether we’re in the springtime of life or facing the onslaught of winter, we need merriment, cheer and laughter to keep us healthy and strong. Laughter and cheerfulness supplement the nutrients of a balanced diet consisting of food, spiritual nourishment, and physical and mental exercise. And best of all, the medicinal benefits of laughter and a positive outlook are free. We are spared one more expense at the pharmacy. Better still, there is no long list of possible life-threatening side effects.
Help us see what You’ve done for us, Lord. You’ve given us pleasures galore. All around and within. The very least we can do is look around, appreciate and praise You for all of it: every season of the year, every season of life. You, indeed, know what You are doing. We invite You to walk with us through it all, right by our side. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
© 2006 by Dotty Moore. All rights reserved.
Dotty Moore
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