As the name of my blog indicates, I spend a lot of time thinking about home. Of course, my Heavenly Home is the one that is eternal, so that’s where I need to lay up my treasures, and that’s the one I’m striving for. But in the meantime, I have been given this tiny piece of the here-and-now—this home on the edge of town, this family, this neighborhood—in which to serve Him. And, though this is in the earthly realm, I want the things that happen here to be investments in the Heavenly realm.




Monday, April 16, 2018

"Life's Autumn"


Continuing this series of quoted ponderings and Bible verses about growing older. (Click ~here~ to read others.) Today, I am sharing a poem by Amy Carmichael, found in Mountain Breezes




LIFE'S AUTUMN
~ Amy Carmichael

Great Giver of my lovely green in Spring,
          A dancing, singing green upon my tree,
My green has passed; I have no song to sing;
          What will my Autumn be?

Must it be, thought alive, as all but dead,
          A heavy-footed and a silent thing?
Effectless, sapless, tedious, limited,
          A withered vanishing?

                    * * * * *

This I; but He to me: "Have I not shown
          In Autumn woodland and on mountain fell
The splendor of My purpose for Mine own?
          Fear not, for all is well.

"And thou shalt see, My child, what I will do,
          For as thy lingering Autumn days unfold,
The lovely, singing green of hitherto
          Will come to thee in gold."




Does this poem say anything to you? Does it give you encouragement for the "Autumn" of your life?

14 comments:

  1. A lovely poem by Amy Carmichael. Not sure if turning 61 this year means being in very late summer or very early autumn. Autumn is my favourite season so I'm not surprised that I'm loving my 60's. For me, it's the season of gathering the memories and now writing about it. These are 'days of gold' for me. As I look back, I see so clearly His faithfulness and gentle guidance throughout my life. And I'm so grateful.

    Wishing you a beautiful day, Cheryl.
    Brenda xox

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    1. Precious words, these: "As I look back, I see so clearly His faithfulness and gentle guidance throughout my life." So much to stir our hearts to gratitude!

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  2. Oh yes, it does remind me I'm in the Autumn days of my life. It reminds me as the poem says "fear not for all is well." No matter the season of my life, God's grace and love continue to be faithful. ♥

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    1. I like that line too, Martha Ellen. "Fear not for all is well." I thank Him for His faithfulness!

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  3. It's a beautiful poem, speaking to those of us particularly who are well into Autumn. I love the idea of our life being compared to seasons.

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    1. I like the seasonal analogy too, Elisabethd.

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  4. I love Autumn as a season, and I trust the autumn of my life will be full of its own beauties.

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    1. I feel the same way about Autumn. I think it is the most beautiful of the seasons. May we, in our "autumn" seasons, reflect His beauty in our lives.

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  5. I've probably read this before but it came to me in new clarity tonight. Especially the last thought--what richness and beauty in those words. We can make our autumn years what we want by our attitude. I'm thinking of Mrs. B. tonight and how she lived her life with such grace and beauty and a dose of humor I think!

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    1. I love that last stanza too! I found it so encouraging!

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  6. The line that speaks to me is Fear not, for all is well. I'm so behind in thinking and visiting but soon I'll be back fresh when all this listing, selling and moving is behind us. And I must not fear what the future holds. Blessings!

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    1. Praying for you now as you are moving forward!

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  7. It is quite a statement of faith, especially from one who suffered so in her final years. It
    would be interesting to know where along her journey she wrote this. I imagine that, though
    such knowledge (of her struggles) can trouble us, Jesus would say something like What’s it
    to you? Follow me.

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    1. Indeed, Amy did suffer in her final years, and yet, I believe that she found her Father faithful to her! I love the words that she spoke to one of her nurses who was going on furlough, "We won't meet again in this world. When you hear I have gone, jump for joy."

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