Thankfulness: A Lament
It’s that time of year. Orange takes over, and people are delighting in pumpkin. The nights are coming sooner; the days are cooler. Harvest is the result of a fruitful summer, and people are looking forward to the twin holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Autumn is a melancholy time for me.
I dread the short days with the darkness descending too soon. I miss the fresh fruits of my garden; the sweet morning sounds of the birds; flip-flops. And I really don’t care for orange.
For me, fall commences a season of reflection, which culminates at the futile resolutions of New Year’s Day. It marks another year in the aging process that I am Not. Readily. Embracing.
To counteract drowning in the sorrows of autumn, I create a thankfulness list. It is a necessary practice, a lifeboat, if you will, to give me hope as I see winter advancing.
I read Psalm 136, and create my own version of this Psalm of Thankfulness:
Oh, give thanks to God, who does great wonders,
For his steadfast love endures forever.
Who provides good things in His perfect timing,
For his steadfast love endures forever.
Who gives me food and shelter,
For his steadfast love endures forever.
Who has healed my husband’s cancer,
For his steadfast love endures forever.
Who provides my children with wonderful spouses, and children of their hearts,
For his steadfast love endures forever.
Who blesses me with healthy grandchildren,
For his steadfast love endures forever.
Who has given me experiences in His grace,
For his steadfast love endures forever.
Who gives me the joy of my salvation,
For his steadfast love endures forever.
Who promises me the hope of spring,
For his steadfast love endures forever.
Who continually loves me, despite my unloveliness,
For his steadfast love endures forever.
Who assures me an eternal place of rest (and perhaps, summer?),
For his steadfast love endures forever.
Of course this list could be even more specific, and could go on and on.
But already this practice of listing the things for which I am thankful feeds my sense of hope. I am able to re-direct my mind toward the things that cause happiness in me. It gives me patience to persevere, and allows me to take some delight in this season despite my struggle with it.
May God’s steadfast love which endures forever be made known to you in clear ways during this Thanksgiving season.
- Generations of Faith - February 5, 2020
- Lament Over Disunity - November 27, 2019
- Invitations: God’s Promptings - May 22, 2019
This post speaks to my heart on so many levels, Rebecca, thank you. I have a hard time this time of because of SAD, so I take my Vitamin D & do all the things to feed my body/brain, but remembering to give thanks feeds my soul. Thank you for the reminder to place myself in Scripture, (since it’s His love letter to us, anyway). I love that idea, & was first introduced to it by another dear writer in this group. 🙂
I take mega Vitamin D, seek sunshine and all that, but winter is hard for me, too. It reminds me of the desolate seasons in our lives, where its cold and God seems far away. The best thing about winter is the SPRING that follows it! Like spring, God does makes Himself known to us again after the quiet times.
He sure does. Love that one of my favorite verses is in Lamentations, itself. 3:22-26
I don’t care for orange, either, but I LOVE fall. It’s my favorite season. Even so, I have plenty of other laments. Thanks for reminding me to redirect.
My pleasure!
Thank you Becky! This helps me redirect my perspective. Although I love fall, I don’t like it getting dark at 5:30 or the cooler weather that is upon us now.