God loves beauty. He gives each season a uniqueness all its own. Winter brings the cold, but along with it the promise of snow. A winter wonderland. New fallen snow from a silvery sky casting a silence over all, but with a breathtaking beauty that one does not forget. Pure white flakes, no two the same, drift ever so softly, to nestle gently within the branches of the pines, oak, sweetgum trees and cover the ground with its pure white softness. Cardinals with their brilliant red, brighten the snowy scene, feeding on sunflower seeds. An abundance of Black capped chickadees settle along with them for a continuous meal throughout the day. Snow ice cream to be made with sugar, vanilla and milk. A taste all its own. What’s not to like about that?
“Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: Thou hast made summer and winter.” Psalms 74:17
Winter fades into spring. The warmth of the sun bids all to come to life again. The sap in the trees begins to rise and leafing begins. First, a very pale green and in just a short time the trees are covered in leaves. Various trees burst forth with all manner of white and pink flowers. Carolina Jasmine entwining itself on the trellis and fences with spectacular and fragrant yellow blooms Tulips, dogwood, Indian paint brush and bluebonnets that grow in a sea of spectacular blue, dotted here and there with white bluebonnets and soon there will be all varieties of wildflowers. Peach and plum trees hopeful of an abundant season burst forth into pink blooms. Life begins again. Many different species of butterflies flutter in the garden in my front yard and the migration of the hummingbirds herald spring, stopping by my feeder on their way north for the summer, some staying behind to spend the summer in my backyard. Birds of all kinds begin gathering twigs, cat hair, twine to prepare a nest for their young.
“For lo, the winter is passed, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land . . . .’ Song of Solomon 2:11-12
“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Genesis 8:22
“And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yieldiing fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:12
Spring fades into summer. It is much warmer now, and the pastures are green with soon to be, new mown hay. Cattle grazing, calves being born, and all lazily resting in the warmth of the sun. Lightning bugs will soon to grace the night and mesmerize adults and children alike. Locusts with their nightly sounds, a whippoorwill in the distance sings a beautiful song in the late evening and early morning. Bluebirds, Mockingbirds, Robins, Wrens, Sparrows and an occasional Roadrunner drinking, bathing in the birdbath. Hawks soaring in the heavens and an occasional eagle can be seen perched atop trees.
“And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.” Genesis 1:20
“And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.” Genesis 1:14
Summer fades into fall and leaves begin to turn red, crimson, green, gold, yellow, brown, orange and all shades in between. Persimmons awaiting the first frost, a first sweet taste of autumn. This season always reminds me that all is beginning to slow in preparation for the cold winter ahead, but along with this slow pace a gloriously colorful season, before all goes dormant. Deer and their fawn from early spring graze in pastures. The sunsets ablaze with orange, red, gray, pale blue, glorious to behold, and when morning breaks on the horizon, beautiful golden, tangerine, pale blue colors to welcome a new day. “Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile.”
The cycling of the seasons continue. . . . . and there is something comforting in knowing that. . . . something that remains the same. Year after year, season after season. None are ever the same, just as in His greatest creation. Man. All are different. Beauty for all to see, to hear, to learn from, to enjoy. A frosty winter’s night in the warmth of your home, spring time to enjoy new life, summer to enjoy the warmth of the sun and to eat fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, peas, peaches, plums, strawberries, watermelon, blackberries. . . all from God’s bountiful harvest.
Fall arrives, the pace slows, the end of the year. Beauty abounds, pecans fall, awaiting a freshly baked pecan pie in November. Thanksgiving. . . . .to thank Him always for His many blessings that He bestows on all mankind, and the greatest gift from Him, His only Son. May we ever be thankful to Him who giveth good things!
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall our Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?” Matthew 7:11
All there to behold, if we take the time. . . . .
“There was time. So how did it all change? When did the summers grow short, truncated? When did the endless month of August become not even a month at all but a jumping-off place for the season to come?”
Eileen Light