“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

I love living in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, especially in autumn. As the air turns crisp and the days grow shorter, the trees begin to deepen with a myriad of colors, transforming the landscapes into a canopy of the Master’s living artwork.

We are blessed to experience the beauty of each season—the snow-covered mountains of winter, the soft blooms of dogwoods in spring, the golden heat of summer, and, my favorite, the warm days and cool nights of autumn.

A Preference for Spring

But my husband never shared my love for fall. As the days shortened and the trees grew bare, he would often say he was grateful for hunting season but couldn’t wait for spring—when the world would come back to life again.

Since my husband went to be with Jesus three years ago, I’ve found myself dreading the fall and winter seasons too. The long nights and cold winds remind me of his absence. Yet, God has a way of using His creation to whisper reminders that the seasons of this life are only temporary pieces of an eternal plan.

The Lens of Purpose

When we look at the changing seasons through the lens of His purpose, we begin to see that His design holds a sweeter, eternal lesson. Death, to the child of God, is not a final fading but the doorway to new and eternal life. It is not a fearful ending, but a glorious beginning. Just as the trees surrender their leaves only to bud again, we too are being prepared for renewal—one season at a time—until we step into the beauty of our eternal home, where life will never fade again.