While the days have still been quite warm, there’s no denying that autumn has arrived. The cooler mornings and evenings, the falling leaves and shorter daylight all testify to its arrival. A new season is upon us, and for me, that also brings a time of reflection.
In my mind, autumn is often associated with gratitude and thankfulness. Perhaps that’s because I grew up celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving in early October. As a child, I don’t think I understood how significant the harvest season was for a farming community. Everything rested on bringing in a good harvest because without it, you might not survive the winter. As a child, I was shielded from such concerns because we shopped at the grocery store which never seemed to run out of food. I was raised in a very fortunate country, perhaps among the first generation in history to have provisions from around the world available in our kitchen any time we wanted.
So today is as good as any day to give thanks and praise God for all his provisions.
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
32 Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
33 Let the trees of the forest sing,
let them sing for joy before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever. (1 Chronicles 16:31-34)
Look around at God’s good world today and give him thanks for what you see.
