Seasonal lessons in how to persevere
By Matthew Livingstone | On Mission
The shift from summer to autumn often catches us by surprise. One day, we’re packing for a cottage getaway, basking in long, warm days; the next, we’re prepping the lawnmower for winter and grabbing an extra sweater for that Sunday getaway. September arrives, and amber sunsets give way to cold evening breezes. For families, this season can feel overwhelming — school schedules, sports and other commitments pile up fast.
Yet, in this Jubilee Year of Hope, we are invited to root ourselves in God’s faithful promise: he gives us the hope and strength to persevere through every change life brings.
It’s OK to slow down
Ferris Bueller’s famous line rings true: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” For families moving from summer’s ease to autumn’s demands, this advice hits home. It’s easy to cling to sunlit memories or dread the snow ahead. But lingering on the past or fretting about the future steals the present, where God meets us best.
Hope calls us to live in the now. A quiet dinner, a stroll through falling leaves or a family prayer leaves room for God’s grace in our lives. Letting go of past mistakes or trusting in what’s to come frees us to be who we are, God’s beloved children. Share a device-free meal. Take time for a hike and enjoy this season’s beauty together. Slowing down helps us see how and where God is moving. Change encourages us to remain anchored in the hope we have in him.
The gift of seasons
A friend once left the Midwest for California’s endless summer, trading snow for sunny days. Long after he moved his family westward, we reconnected, and I expected to hear glory stories about how wonderful it was to live in the Golden State. Instead, he said, “We miss winter. We’re moving back to Wisconsin next year.” Great expectations had given way to a longing for the rhythm of the seasons and fresh snow on Christmas morning.
We might not always notice the subtleties of this reality, but Jesus reminds us: “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” (Jn 12:24).
Autumn shows us life’s cycle of letting go and trusting in renewal. Falling leaves and bare branches aren’t endings but preparations for new growth. Watching a grain of wheat fall to the ground might not seem hopeful, but it can indeed bring forth new life. Families can embrace this rhythm. Hope helps us find grace in challenges — a child’s struggles or family tension — and trust that God will lead us toward something better, something new.
Autumn’s call to hope
Hope defines autumn. It’s the quiet trust that, as leaves fall and days shorten, spring will return. And hope is believing in what’s unseen, relying on God’s faithfulness to bring it forth for the good of all. Year after year, he brings life from dormancy — green shoots from snowy fields, warmth from cold mornings. If God renews the earth every year, how much more is he able to renew our hearts, homes and families? He will, because he is able.
This Jubilee Year, embrace autumn’s invitation. When schedules overwhelm or doubts creep in, ground your family in simple acts of faith: pray together, serve your parish or offer kindness where it’s needed. These choices sow seeds of hope, trusting God to bring fruit in his time. Even the coldest winter cannot resist the new life brought by a springtime sun. As leaves fall, let hope rise. God is faithful. He will carry us through autumn, winter and into spring, fulfilling his promise to make all things new.
Matthew Livingstone lives with his wife, Becky, and their eight children in rural Kewaunee County. Matthew is the senior media production coordinator for the Diocese of Green Bay.