Thankfulness and all the Colorful Flavors of Fall

Thankful for all the flavors?

While the abundance of fall and my favorite season’s harvest means more to me than picking apples in North Carolina, baking pumpkin pies, or roasting huge turkeys, I smile with every remembrance of autumns gone by. Only by God’s grace, in good times and bad, we’ve gathered summer’s bounty or lack thereof. With every news headline I read, I’m reminded there’s never been a better time to appreciate life—or celebrate thankfulness and all the colorful flavors of fall.

Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 106:1 ESV

Celebrating thankfulness for summer’s bounty and gathering all the colorful flavors of fall…

Celebrate your favorite flavors, scents, and colors

Although I don’t frequent cafes or dream of pumpkin spice lattes in mid-summer like some of my friends, I’ll admit, they’re yummy in a sickening-sweet kind of way. Likewise, aromas of homemade cookies or smoky cinnamon, vanilla, or pumpkin scented candles trigger lots of feel-good endorphins in my brain—especially since the temps dipped in our neck of the woods these past few days.

I can smell autumn dancing in the breeze. The sweet chill of pumpkin, and crisp sunburnt leaves.

Ann Drake

Bye-bye, Summer. Fall is almost here.

Yay! That means:

  • No more sweat rolling down my brow moments after I go outside.
  • I can finally spread the pile of mulch I left in the driveway since late June.

In a few weeks, I’ll open all the windows and decorate every room in the house with leaf garlands in hues of crimson, orange, and gold.

Thankful for colorful leaves and all the yummy flavors of fall.

Seasons, and sowing, and reaping

I anticipate the arrival of much welcomed cool morning breezes and hope the thermometer dips below fifty degrees—the magical temp that signals it’s time to make chili or stew and lite a fire in our fireplace. A few weeks after we say goodbye to the scorching heat of summer, mountain trails beckon us to take long hikes. Oh, how I love the sound of boots scrunching dried leaves beneath our feet. It’s my favorite season. If family, friends, and neighbors can’t gather to share food, hope, and their stories, we’ll find a way to share … the good, the bad, and the ugly. We’ll celebrate thankfulness and all the colorful flavors of fall.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you

1Thessalonians 5:18
In all seasons of sowing and reaping, we give thanks.

Living Thankful

Dear friends, could the difference between saying we’re thankful and living thankful be that much more of an excruciating aspiration than we originally thought? The phrase has a complex definition, especially for anyone over the age of fifty-something who must wave goodbye to yesterday’s youth. We’ve gleaned and (hopefully) learned from each season of our lives. We embrace and accept today’s joys and sorrows, and face fears of tomorrow head-on. This year and always, I hope we celebrate thankfulness and all the colorful flavors of fall—and every season we’re given, for the gift it really is.

Don’t forget to join the conversation here in the Inspire A Fire comments section below this story. I’d love to hear your thoughts and stories. Read more of my stories on Dreamdove’s Flights of Fancy blog or the DoveStories website. Wishing you love, peace, and thankfulness on your journey ~ Joann

Special thanks to Pixabay for all free images: Feature image by Jill Wellington, #1 lg image by bernwaelz, #2 lg image by Jbom411, #3 lg image by Foto-Rabe.

Joann Claypoole

Joann Claypoole is an author, speaker, and former spa-girl entrepreneur. She's a wife, mother of four sons, “Numi” to four grandchildren, doggie-mom of two. The award-winning author of The Gardener’s Helper’s (ages 5-9 MJ Publishing2015) would rather be writing, hiking in the mountains, or inviting deer and other wildlife to stay for dinner near her western NC writing retreat. Visit her website: joannclaypoole.com and WordPress blog: https://joannclaypoole.wordpress.com/

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2 comments

  1. Autumn(Fall), is also my favorite season and time of year! This Blog makes you feel the season changing,A beautiful must Read! Plz Friends/Family Read,Like,Comment and Share… With Your Friends/Family!!!!!!

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