Hi, this is Marilyn. Everyone has a favorite time of the year. What’s yours? Mine is fall, autumn, that time of year when in my part of the world the air turns crisp and clean, the light turns golden, and the trees turn brilliant colors. The whole world is winding down after a busy spring and summer as it gets ready for bed and the long sleep of winter.
I especially love the leaves in fall. I can kick through them on walks in the woods, rake them into a pile and jump in it, and hold one up to the sun and marvel at the beautiful colors.
Do you know what makes the leaves turn such beautiful colors? I recently found out that the leaves already have the gorgeous reds, oranges, yellows, purples, browns and rusts in them. But in the spring and summer, when the trees store up food for winter, their leaves are filled with chlorophyll, the chemical that makes photosynthesis possible. (You remember learning in science that photosynthesis is a plant’s way of turning sunlight into food. Btw, isn’t our God brilliant? He’s more brilliant than the fall colors he creates!) But when the nights become longer and colder in the fall, the leaves lose their chlorophyll. When that happens, the gorgeous colors that were hidden all through spring and summer can show through.
Now, green is a fine color, but isn’t the striking array of different colors a treat for your eyes after summer is over? It makes me think of all the wonderful parts of ourselves that we might keep hidden because we’re shy or embarrassed or afraid of what other people might think of us if we show them. Maybe you love to play the pan flute or play chess or collect words (don’t laugh–there are people who love the sound of particular words and keep lists of them). Maybe you write poetry or sing or have a powerful tennis serve and don’t want other people to know. Or you’re afraid of letting other people know that you love God.
Just like the leaves, there will come a time when the fear or shyness or embarrassment that hides those wonderful parts of you will fade. Remember that God made you who you are. He created all the colors in you. So, don’t be afraid to let your brilliant colors show through!
To get into an autumn mood, try this yummy recipe for pumpkin smoothies!
- Put all these ingredients into a blender:
- 3/4 cup of plain or vanilla yogurt
- 1/2 cup of canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1/4 cup of apple juice or apple cider
- 1/2 tsp. of vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp. of nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp. of cinnamon
- Crushed ice
- Put the blender lid on, and blend until the mixture is smooth.
- Pour into glasses. Enjoy!
Next time, try making it with one of these!
- 2 Tbsp. of peanut butter
- 1/4 cup of pure maple syrup (and skip the apple juice)
- 1/4 cup of chocolate syrup
- 1/2 of a banana
God bless you!
Marilyn Hilton is the author of the novels Full Cicada Moon and Found Things, and the nonfiction books The Christian Girl’s Guide to Your Mom and It’s All About Dad & Me. She has also published numerous articles, devotions, short stories, and poems in literary and consumer magazines, and has contributed to various compilations.
She holds a MA in English/Creative Writing and has worked for several years in the computer software industry as a technical editor and writer. As a writer, she enjoys telling “stories that stick” to readers of all ages. As a speaker, she enjoys encouraging her listeners in their walk with the Lord.
Sounds delicious, Marilyn!
I’m glad to live in a state where the leaves are so colorful in the fall. (But there are a lot to rake.) 🙂