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| Photo Credit: julkusiowa |
(Also, a sense of humor to laugh at the worst awkward situations. Seriously, my life is destined to be a sitcom. Things happen to me that happen on episodes of Friends, not in real life. Except they do happen in my life. I guess I should be used to it by now.)
As I'm writing this, I'm at one of my favorite places: a big rock on top of a mountain, overlooking a lake and a beautiful sunset, with colorful leaves fluttering around me, crunching when I walk.
Autumn is my favorite time of year.
Ironic, because not only is it the most beautiful season to me, it's also one of the saddest. Everything is dying, and I know that soon, the trees will be bare, the grass will be brown, and I'll be stuck indoors until March.
Still, without the death that autumn brings, there can be no changing leaves, no color, no bonfires or caramel apples, none of the vibrance of the season that I love the most. The best things can't come without pain.
And yes, spring will come eventually. New life always follows death. Things won't hurt forever. And I do love springtime as well. The warmth, the flowers, the green, the birds. It's a close second favorite.
Even so, there's just something special about the fall.
The more I experience, the more I go through the changes of life, the more I begin to realize: there's something special about the hardest times. Yes, they hurt so much, and no, I probably wouldn't choose them if given an option. But it's through this kind of pain that the most beautiful changes come. Somehow, the most joy comes in the times that hurt the most. Sometimes, it's not about pushing through and waiting for the hard times to be over; it's about finding the incredible joy that can only be found in them. It's something I don't understand, but it's the most special kind of joy and peace that I've ever experienced.
It's the hardest times that force things in me to die. And when they die, I learn what it means to really live. I learn to see Him again.
When I am weak, He is strong.
Whoever loses his life will gain it.
Dying, we live.
Sometimes, the beauty can only be found in the loss. Just like autumn.
Your blog is beautiful! And I totally agree with you -- autumn is the best, especially when add hot cocoa into the mix! :)
ReplyDeleteI just jumped over from A Holy Experience and wanted to say "hi."
Stopping by from Ann's today and agreeing with you about the beauty of this season. Knowing all is dying, will sleep for a time, and will spring back to life! Blessings to you...
ReplyDeleteBrittany, you've written it beautifully. Yes, autumn has its own wonder - it makes one pensive and meditate about life deeper. Gazing at our narra tree, a deciduous tree, shedding its leaves fast also inspires me to write :).
ReplyDeleteI had very similar thoughts today while emptying my flower pots and cultivating the garden. Beauty in empty branches and the land going to rest. Yes, sometimes in the hardest times there is incredible joy. May He fill your week to overflowing!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Visiting from Ann's today!
Beautiful, thanks for sharing. I love autumn too!
ReplyDeleteBlessings & Love all the way from Mexico! :)
Mariana LJZ.