Changing of Seasons

A few weeks back, my photo challenge was “Change of Seasons”, I quickly grabbed my camera and went outside to photograph the fall leaves; Fall is my favorite Season. Everything is beautiful and brightly colored. The sky seems to have a bolder sunrise and sunset; the leaves turn the brightest golds, oranges, and reds, even the grass seems to be greener (maybe from the fertilizer). But then I realized that this is all just preparation to endure the harsh cold winters. Trees know and trust that in the harshness of winter is where they grow, where their roots become stronger, and where the beauty lies dormant just waiting to burst out in the warm Spring again.

So how do we keep our beauty and balance and stay strong during the Changing Seasons of our lives? Well, much like the trees, in order to survive year after year, change after change; we have our roots planted in familiar soil, we stand strong, yet bend in the winds of life as not to break. Most trees have other trees around them to protect from the elements and share the rain and sun. We have our families and friends to help us when the harsh winds of adversity strike. We have our families and friends to nurture and feed us when our souls feel empty.

Much like the trees, sometimes the Seasons of life leave us bare and exposed. Our first harsh winters of life are scary and cold and grey and we just want to be where it is beautiful and warm and full of life. But as we experience Season after Season after Season, we grow to trust in our roots, we trust in our family and friends, and we trust that just as the Seasons in nature always return to abundance we can still be bright and beautiful all the while knowing that the harsh winters will come and that we will not only survive, but grow and flourish.

Never give up; this too shall pass, never doubt the power of the love and protection of family and friends, and never shy away from the opportunity to show your fiery colors and natural beauty to the world. May the Change of Seasons in your life, bring your beauty along with family and friends in your Seasons of adversity.