Merry Autumn Days
This week we have been blessed with our first cold front of the season. The temperatures plummeted to the low 40s. It was so nice to wear a sweater in the morning. I let our new puppy out early each morning to do his business and took my coffee on our front porch under a blanket. I absolutely enjoyed snuggling up under a blanket in the gusty, cold wind.
It was completely refreshing. For several days now, it feels like autumn in Texas. So many of the trees around here make it appear that the season has come; however, it is just the dying trees because of the drought. Now it is official; autumn is here.
Why would I get so excited about a cold front? Because it is a relief that summer is over. This summer has been really tough on us. It has been tough on our animals, too. Now that autumn is here, it feels like we have crossed into a new phase of life. We survived the extremely high temperatures. We survived the worst part of the exceptional drought (at least we hope so).
That is just it, though. The change in season illustrates the hope we have for the future. We know that climatologists are predicting a very hard winter with enough rainfall to make us miserable. This is exactly what my husband was told when he attended the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course this past August. I take it to mean that those who study weather patterns expect the temperatures to be low and for there to be enough rain to make the cold cut right to the bone.
If you have never been in a cold area with high humidity, then you don’t know what it is like. I remember one New Year’s Eve we spent with my brother and his wife. It was cold! The temperature was only in the thirties, but my goodness, the cold cut right through all the brand new ski wear we all were wearing. A few weeks later, we were all in Colorado. The actual temperature was 19 degrees F. It did not feel as cold as it did back in Texas.
To get back to my point, we are looking at a very hard winter. However, we are welcoming this first cold front of the season. It is a dramatic change from the countless days of well above 100 degree temperatures. Despite our unknown future, we have faith that God will continue to provide for our needs.
Through times of drought and wild fires to safe times of plenty, we still look toward the future. We have hope for tomorrow. We are grateful for our many blessings. We have faith that we can withstand whatever comes our way. We enjoy our present circumstances, but our eyes are set on the future. These are my thoughts as I swing on the front porch sipping my coffee.
Next week the temperatures will be back in the 80s, but I know that more cold fronts are coming our way. Firewood is being chopped. We are getting ready for the next season in life: winter. Until it comes, you gotta love autumn.
Merry Autumn Days
by Charles Dickens
‘Tis pleasant on a fine spring morn
To see the buds expand,
‘Tis pleasant in the summer time
To see the fruitful land;
“Tis pleasant on a winter’s night
To sit around the blaze,
But what are joys like these, my boys,
To merry autumn days!
We hail the merry Autumn days,
When leaves are turning red;
Because they’re far more beautiful
Than anyone has said,
We hail the merry harvest time,
The gayest of the year;
The time of rich and bounteous crops,
Rejoicing and good cheer.
