Even though I love going to the beach (sweat, sand, and all), I am always ready to welcome the cool fall weather. If it were up to me, it would be between fifty-five and seventy-five degrees year round! Beach days are the only days I welcome heat!
Now that autumn is here, I am looking forward to going to apple orchards, pumpkin carving, playing outside with our golden retriever, gazing at the beautifully colored leaves, and celebrating Thanksgiving. Yes, indeed, the fall season has so much to offer!
But, just like any good party, we know it cannot last forever. Winter is coming. We should enjoy the joys of autumn while preparing for winter’s bitter cold.
Have Fun!
Enjoy the ability to get out and revel in the cool air. Take nothing for granted! Enjoy the smell of pumpkin candles, pumpkin bread, and pumpkin spice lattes! Pick apples and carve pumpkins. Find any excuse you can to go outside and enjoy the cool! The summer was long and the winter will be too, so make it your goal to thoroughly enjoy your fall experience.
Store Your Barns for Harder Times
While you are out having fun, start preparing for the winter. When it’s cold and dreary, or you are snowed in, what will you want to have? Canned goods, a healthy wood pile, or a fridge full of seasonal coffee creamers?
While you are enjoying carefree, joyous, “fall-like” days in your relationship, start preparing for the future. You may not argue much now, but study conflict resolution tips anyway. You don’t have kids bouncing off the walls, but read some parenting books and talk to parents who are in that stage of life. And don’t wait until you feel desperate to open your Bibles and read together. From the first night of your marriage, delve into God’s word together and make doing so the most prioritized action item of each day.
While you are strengthening your relationship in preparation for harder times, start planning financially as well. Save money. Invest responsibly. Pay off any and all debt. Read what the Bible has to say about money, and do what it says! Keep some food and water on hand in case of a crisis.
As your relationship and financial situation are gaining muscle, build some muscles of your own. While you are young and flexible, make exercising a regular part of your life. If you get in shape and stay in shape you will be better off than if you wait until you have a passel of health problems to get started. It will be easier to trudge through hard times if your body is healthy.
Don’t Dread the Coming Cold
Sure, cold weather is coming, but don’t let your dread of winter steal your autumn joy. Balance is the name of the game. Enjoy the beauty of this season, but don’t become so carefree that you don’t prepare for what’s to come.
When we are prepared for storms, bitterly cold days, or political unrest, we don’t have to dread them. We all know that if the Lord tarries, we will die someday. However, knowing that we won’t always be here does not keep us (hopefully) from enjoying the days we have been given.
Yes, winter is coming. Your relationship will go through some hard times. Perhaps depression? The death of parents? Parenting disagreements? The loss of a job? Expect some tougher days, but rejoice in the season you are in now. Gather nuts for the winter and play in the crunchy autumn leaves.
Happy Autumn, everyone!!!
How can you enjoy the carefree days you have now and also prepare for harder days?