Ecclesiastes 3:11 – He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

I’m in love! Yes, at nearly 62 years old, I’m falling in love again. No—this isn’t breaking news about the state of my marriage. I still adore my husband of nearly 33 years.

So, what’s this love about? As crazy as it sounds, I’m embracing life in a whole new way in the “autumn of my life.” I like to think of this period as late adulthood, rather than old age. Just as autumn is a season known for its vibrant palette of colors, the more mature hues also symbolize my own collected experiences of wisdom and maturity.

This concept of my life’s “autumn” makes me pause to reflect on the passage of time and the many changing seasons I’ve gone through—and to be honest, I’ve barely endured them at times, except by the strength and grace of God. I’m now retired, my children are grown, and I have two beautiful grandchildren. All these things have helped enhance the richness and depth of my existence. But just as the fall foliage doesn’t remain vivid with its bright oranges, golds, reds, and ambers, life has a way of showing more earthy and warm tones (to put it nicely) and wrinkles. I smile as I type this because I know the inevitability of more wrinkles, which are coming to a face near me (mine to be exact). I do grapple with other issues related to aging—arthritic hands, creaky knees, and a slower transition from sitting to standing LOL.

Have you noticed that fall colors become more beautiful because they thrive in harmony? Harmony doesn’t require uniformity. Instead, it centers around the way our differences complement one another. My maturing age has taught me to strive for harmony in my life, which has positively impacted my sense of peace and contentment. Contentment is vital because as I age, I’ve become more aware of the fleeting nature of life. I must admit, though, that the fast passage of time is a challenging reality to embrace, yet it has deepened my appreciation of the present moment and heightened my love for the outdoors and the changing seasons.

Autumn—yes, I’m in love with you! For you remind me that it’s time to shed the old—just like you tell the trees to shed their leaves. I pray that the Lord, who oversees every season of my life, will help me let go of all the unnecessary in my life, and that I more readily embrace life’s changes with grace. I also pray that we all remember that as the leaves mature, fall off the trees, and lay on the ground, their story isn’t over. They gently blanket the earth while enriching the soil, like a precious embrace for the growth of new plants and trees. May my legacy one day be that I have, even in some small way, helped enrich another’s life—simply by being beautiful in God’s time!