7 Tips For A Peaceful Autumn Season by Janet Chester Bly
Sometimes it seems we here in the mountains of northern Idaho experience the shortest autumn season period in the west. A few weeks tops. Yet, fall’s my favorite season. The colors and sunsets. The crispy, sensory sounds, smells and sights. I could live in the heights of autumn season forever.
If you could order a perfect weather day, what would it be?
Fall signifies peace to me. If I could order a perfect weather day, it would be 70-ish degrees. Soft breezes. Streaks and puffs of layered clouds brushing the azure sky. Clean-cut air.
But just like the weather, peace of mind seems to come and go for me and most of those around me. It’s over-turned by panic. Turmoil. Sleepless nights. Storms of stress. Troubled times.
Yet, over it all, Jesus says, “Keep calm. Don’t panic” (John 14:27).
The holiday season fast approaches. My present goal? To walk with God every moment without anxiety, free of fear. Like the serene autumn season.
My prayer? “Lord, guide me in your way of peace. Help me do the actions that promote peace. . .for myself and others around me.”
FIGHTING FOR PEACE
One thing I’ve learned over the decades. Fighting for that season of peace requires courage because I have to . . .
1) choose love over hate.
2) admit sometimes, “I was wrong.”
3) try to comfort the afflicted.
4) reach out to hug a prodigal.
5) try real hard not to become a cynic when confronted with maddening words or outrageous deeds.
6) be on the watch for what God’s doing in my world, above and beyond the salacious, the distracting and diversionary, as well as the evil stuff.
7) remember when I hear heart-stopping news, to ask, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” rather than “How did this mess happen?”I’m training myself not to freak out about the future. To grab hold of God’s big picture plan instead. His autumn peace season brims with promise of abundance of good blessings. With compassion to all who reach out to him. And then there’s the forever peace of the life to come.
Autumn season is a transition period, an evolving stage. So is my life. So is yours. Remember that the next time leaves begin to turn and twist and fall.
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What is the season that denotes peace most to you and why?
God bless you, dear Janet. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I’m almost finished reading Hard Winter at Broken Arrow Crossing. What an impact you and Stephen have had on many of us through your writing! Have a happy Thanksgiving with your family, and a Merry Christmas as well.
Greetings, Mark: Thanks so very much for your kind note! Blessed holidays for you and your family, too! Janet
I love your description of fall and peace. Sometimes peace is hard to find. My last few months have been crazy. Everything seems to be going on. I looked to the right and my most favorite of books is there. I have read the Long Trail Home so many times. I see myself in there sometimes. Not believing what God does. The other day I remarked, I was speaking to God. I give my class at church fifty cent pieces when they learn a Bible verse. I looked in my bag and said. “Well God, if you still want me to give the kids fifty cent pieces, I’m going to need more.”
Thursday a guy brought in over forty five dollars of halves. I had to laugh. God surely has a sense of humor. He is also faithful. He sent what I asked for in abundance. And of course I was surprised. Don’t know why. God does that all the time. Take Care Janet. Love your books. So did the folks down at the library.
Anna: Thanks so very much for your lovely note! Greatly appreciated! Blessings to you, especially when you read Bly Books! 🙂 Janet