I noticed on my way into work that the battle to keep the leaves cleaned up, both in our yard and in the office park, is ending. A walk around the office park on my morning break confirmed it: most of the trees have given up their leaves. Sure, we have several evergreens, and a few of the other trees seem to be clinging to a few withered leaves, as if to say they aren’t ready to give up yet. But mostly, it’s over. Since Thanksgiving, the beautiful fall colors have given way to the close of the year and winter dormancy. And so it goes. Another year is passing.
Winter isn’t here yet, but we’ve given in to it. Christmas songs herald the glory of cold weather and snow, a thing I haven’t seen since before we adopted Bubbles in 2016. Good riddance to it, too, because snow in the south usually means nothing but trouble. Our landscape might not be as purely beautiful as our northern neighbors, but there’s a different kind of beauty in a cold, sunny day, especially after a long, humid summer that made you wonder if you’d ever need sweaters, much less a coat, again. It is discouraging for it to get dark on your commute home, but you still have those lovely Christmas lights and decorations to brighten up the season. The warmth of home, dinner, and relaxation take the edge off the shorter days.
Unlike the trees, we won’t give up to winter yet. We’ll have songs, and celebrate, and share meals, presents, and festivities together in the spirit of peace and hope in Christ’s birth. We’ll blow out the old year (good riddance to it) with fireworks, friends, parties, and/or more meals. New Year’s Day will dawn, silent and peaceful, as it usually does before giving way to Bowl games and a final farewell to football. Then we’ll pack away the decorations, turn the calendar page, and start another year with new resolutions in the quiet monotony of everyday life. Will they stick? Only time will tell.
I’ve wondered what I’ll do when the holidays are over. How will I cope, after two difficult years, when the decorations are packed, the festivities are over, we’re back to the routine, and it’s just winter. The answer is simple: the same thing I always do. I’ll get back to work, and back to my writing. I’ll keep reading and enjoying the blessings of everyday life.
I’ll do my best every day. The days will progressively get longer. Soon, I’ll see those bare trees sprouting new leaves on my walk, indicating that the hibernation rest of winter is ending. New life will emerge. Hope remains with the rise of each new day.
So the cycle continues. And so it goes.
That's all today. Take care, and have a great week.
Bye!
Winter isn’t here yet, but we’ve given in to it. Christmas songs herald the glory of cold weather and snow, a thing I haven’t seen since before we adopted Bubbles in 2016. Good riddance to it, too, because snow in the south usually means nothing but trouble. Our landscape might not be as purely beautiful as our northern neighbors, but there’s a different kind of beauty in a cold, sunny day, especially after a long, humid summer that made you wonder if you’d ever need sweaters, much less a coat, again. It is discouraging for it to get dark on your commute home, but you still have those lovely Christmas lights and decorations to brighten up the season. The warmth of home, dinner, and relaxation take the edge off the shorter days.
Unlike the trees, we won’t give up to winter yet. We’ll have songs, and celebrate, and share meals, presents, and festivities together in the spirit of peace and hope in Christ’s birth. We’ll blow out the old year (good riddance to it) with fireworks, friends, parties, and/or more meals. New Year’s Day will dawn, silent and peaceful, as it usually does before giving way to Bowl games and a final farewell to football. Then we’ll pack away the decorations, turn the calendar page, and start another year with new resolutions in the quiet monotony of everyday life. Will they stick? Only time will tell.
I’ve wondered what I’ll do when the holidays are over. How will I cope, after two difficult years, when the decorations are packed, the festivities are over, we’re back to the routine, and it’s just winter. The answer is simple: the same thing I always do. I’ll get back to work, and back to my writing. I’ll keep reading and enjoying the blessings of everyday life.
I’ll do my best every day. The days will progressively get longer. Soon, I’ll see those bare trees sprouting new leaves on my walk, indicating that the hibernation rest of winter is ending. New life will emerge. Hope remains with the rise of each new day.
So the cycle continues. And so it goes.
That's all today. Take care, and have a great week.
Bye!
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