All summer long, I marvelled at the size and colour of the trees in Newfoundland. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the trees as green as this summer! The vibrancy of the leaves and the fullness of the branches immediately caught my attention every time I went outdoors. The flowers were everywhere as well and passing by peoples’ gardens was a feast for the eyes!
Outside my door are two hanging plants. My daughter gave them to me in the spring for Father’s Day. One of the flowers, in particular, has seemed to die and be reborn several times over the course of the summer. Just when I thought it was dead for good, more tiny orange buds would appear and the hearty little plant would flower yet again! As a matter of fact, the beautiful little flower just now finally seems to be past its life cycle. That little plant gave me so much pleasure and I was in awe of its ability to withstand the ravages of our Newfoundland summer with all the wind and the rain and the heat!
Now that fall has come, many of the luscious green trees are now red, orange, and yellow. Leaves are falling all over everyone’s gardens and what I marvelled at this summer now is becoming bare and stark-looking by comparison. In some ways, it makes me a little sad to see everything turn and fade because I will miss the colour until it returns next spring.
The glory of nature is marvellous and miraculous! As the seasons change I am reminded of the power of God who created this world for us to live in. God has given us such beauty no matter what the season! We are here on earth for a relatively short period. In our busy lives, I think we sometimes forget to admire the world around us and appreciate what God has provided.
For Thanksgiving this year, maybe we can all stop to admire the beauty of the world around us and take a few minutes to give thanks to Our Father in Heaven.
Remember the old hymn;
“All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all!”
God bless you!
