As I was sitting today on a picturesque old dock, that stretches out into Maryland’s beautiful Chesapeake Bay, something in the water caught my eye. It was a maple leaf that had fallen from a tree and was floating gently with the tide.

As I watched the leaf move slowly with the current, I was reminded again of this new season of Fall that has just arrived… a time of change… a time of reflection… a time of new beginnings.

When a leaf falls, buds appear, sprouting new life.  The new leaves will make food and nourish the tree, so it can continue to grow and prosper.

The same thing happens to me. When life is difficult, as it so often is,   I fall, too … many times.

I want to learn from this little maple leaf that when I fall, Jesus is always there to pick me up… to encourage me… to lift me… to keep me afloat.

When I stumble, may I always realize that falling is an opportunity for new growth for me as well… growth that will nourish me and make me stronger, just like the maple tree.

I thank God for the gift of this little leaf today. May I hold tightly to its message of change… of rebirth…of hope.

It is Thanksgiving Day, and I am at home sitting in front of a roaring fire… So much is going through my mind as I think about all of my many blessings. This year I’ve been a little under the weather and wasn’t able to travel to join my family for Thanksgiving. So I’ve stayed in my pajamas all day …

A local store sold delicious individual turkey dinners, so I bought one. And as I put my items on the store’s counter, I tried to hide the

turkey dinner so no one would see it and feel sorry for me that I was going to be alone on Thanksgiving.

Since my husband, Steve, died almost nine years ago, I have tried to focus on the thought that holidays and special occasions are “just another day”. It helps me try not to have high expectations so I am not let down or disappointed. And it truly helped me today.

I have focused on gratitude… on being grateful for the countless blessings God has showered upon me… chief among them, my faith, my three incredible children and their spouses… my six precious grandchildren and my wonderful group of friends.

I may have been physically alone today… but I have felt so surrounded by the love and support of my family and friends. It has warmed my heart and filled my day with such joy.

As we now head into the Christmas season, may I hold on to that beautiful thought of “thanks and giving” … so that my heart stays focused on the “real reason for the season”. May I take the time to be present to those around me… and may I realize love is far better to give than any present…

And may I take the time to sit quietly with God… to share time with Him.. to thank Him for His great gifts to me… With so many awful things happening around the world, may I take the time to pray for those who have lost loved ones … those whose lives have been forever changed by horrific acts of violence.

Freedom comes at a cost… may I remember this holiday season and always those who gave their lives for our freedom … may I remember their families left behind… and all those who serve today near and far.

May I take the time to hug my loved ones a little longer… tell those I love that I love them… reach out to someone in need… reach out to someone who is alone.

May I always be filled with “thanks and giving” twelve months a year.

A few years ago I passed by a small church and noticed a sign out front that read, “Autumn leaves … Jesus doesn’t”. And it truly touched my heart.

As leaves turn bright colors now… they fall and “leave”…but the beautiful fact remains that Jesus will always be with us… in good times and bad… offering us hope, unconditional love, peace and joy. He will never leave.

That was so evident to me again two weeks ago when a dear friend of mine lost her 33 year old son suddenly. Amidst our unimaginable pain and grief, Jesus still stood in our midst… He cried with us… He shared our pain and grief… He offered us hope… hope that this young man is now in Heaven … enjoying eternal peace and happiness… and the promise that one day we will all be together again.

And so, as autumn continues to shower us with its magnificent beauty, no matter what is going on in our lives, may we see the falling leaves as a sure sign that God is in His heaven…and that all is right with the world…

because,
although “Autumn leaves… Jesus doesn’t!”

I am blessed to live on beautiful Cape Cod, where the magic of the ocean is with me every day. I never take for granted how fortunate I am. I love to go beachcombing for treasures, and every time I do, I learn new “Lessons from the Shore”.

With the arrival of September, comes the feel and the smell of crisp, autumn air, surely a time for new beginnings. I have tucked summer’s precious memories into photo albums and into the deepest recesses of my heart. Now, I look forward to what lies ahead.

One of my favorite treasures from the shore is seaglass… glass that once started out whole and perfect… perhaps as part of a bottle… jar… or vase…pieces that have been pounded by the waves over the years… their edges made smooth over time… pieces that have become even more meaningful and valuable with each passing day.

I learn much from my treasured seaglass. I learn that I, too, become far wiser… more “polished” and “valuable” over the years from all of life’s storms. I, too, become more special and beautiful as I age. May I truly believe that… and embrace that… as I look forward to another season…

another “New Beginning”.