Fall isn’t my favorite time of year. I much prefer hot, hazy mid-summer days and adore my garden at peak performance showing off its full glory. I relish a few lazy minutes of reading on the porch, the birds’ chorus adding to the unfolding beauty, and the endless, sun-spun blue skies. Then there’s the warm evenings begging us to linger outside and squeeze the most out of the long days of light. Even as I write this, I’m still mourning summer’s end.

Lately, in the hope I can better embrace the changing season, I’ve adopted the practice of asking fall lovers what they like about it. They say they enjoy the cooler weather, the crisp windy days, or the glorious colors. Along with learning to love Fall there are a few things I could stand to be grateful for—not just at Thanksgiving—but throughout the year.

Some things are easy to be thankful for such as sweet apple cider, a slice of pumpkin pie, the blazing leaves letting go, fall Mums, and cozy sweaters. What about the smell of smoke sauntering out of hundred-year-old chimneys, the twitter of migrating birds gathering in the trees, the late-day sun on your face, or a moment to savor the bite of food in your mouth before taking the next.

I’m thankful for my dear friends who love and cheer me on, for my writing buddies, specifically the “Fab Four” who I am releasing a Christmas anthology with this fall, for my children who encourage me to do big things, and for my husband who still loves me after thirty-two years of intimately knowing my every fault. And I’m thankful that God, who knows me even better than that and gave His Son because He thinks I matter.

No matter how much you cherish the changing seasons, how amazing or not-quite-so-amazing your circumstances may be, the truth is we can always find something to be thankful for. The act of being thankful has a way of brushing the cobwebs of ingratitude away. Thankfulness dissolves our childish entitlement—our mini-fits when the world doesn’t give us all we envisioned. Thankfulness acts as an automatic attitude-shifter, and its everyday, moment-by-moment practice helps us approach circumstances with a healthier, life-giving focus.

Occasionally, times grow so bewilderingly dark, so emotionally or physically painful, that it seems virtually impossible to find a single thing to be thankful for. But even when the light is scant, look hard. There is always a small ray of hope shining in that darkness and highlighting something to be thankful for – even if it is that next breath. Joy can coexist with suffering, and thankfulness can pave the way.

Like anything, the more we practice the easier it becomes. What if this fall, we begin to develop a solid habit of finding something to be thankful for each day, especially in times of difficulty? I have an inkling we might experience an increased dose of contentment, peace, and joy.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18

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1. Have you made a “Thankful List”?
2. Develop the practice of finding things to be thankful for each day and even each moment.
3. Consider keeping a Gratitude Journal.

About the author; Melanie Stevenson
Born in England, Melanie has never lost her love of British tea and gardens. Her family immigrated to Canada when she was five years old and settled in southern Ontario. Years later, she entered the University of Waterloo as an English major and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

Growing up, Melanie was passionate about reading, writing, and drawing. She wrote her first novel at age twelve. Since becoming a Christian at age eighteen, she has filled countless journal pages with prayers which became the inspiration behind her devotionals.

One More Tomorrow (September 2019) is Melanie’s debut novel (the first line of which was conceived in an airport terminal) and won Best Romance at the 2020 Word Guild Awards. Her second book, Soul Focus – Trials (November 2019), is a selection of devotionals written over a span of ten years. Melanie was the winner of Best New Canadian Author at the 2020 Word Guild Awards, and received runner up for Best New Manuscript at the 2021 Word Guild Awards.

Click HERE to visit Melanie’s website.