November

No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,

No comfortable feel in any member–

No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,

No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds,

November!

I remember reading this winsome poem by 19th century English poet Thomas Hood from our green and gold children’s poetry book when I was little. When my family lived in the northwest corner of New Mexico, we got a taste of this kind of November, the bleak and brown kind before the saving grace of snow.

In California, though, November is one of our most delightful months. Fall always seems to decide it really is high time to show up just when the calendar turns over from October. Days run crisp and cool, leaves begin to turn in earnest, and woodsmoke flavors the air of an evening. We had a lovely rain this past weekend, with clear blue skies other days.

On Sunday evening, my dad lit the fire in the fireplace for the first time, and we gathered ‘round for family read aloud, presently Catherine Marshall’s Christy. The warmth of the fire, taste of almond cookies and milk, Daddy’s voice carrying us back to the remote mountains of 1912 Kentucky…I cherish these rare quiet hours with my family so much. It’s always hard to stop and go to bed.

Life has been quite crazy lately, for numerous reasons, but in this month of Thanksgiving, it’s good to remember all I have to be thankful for…Sunday stories by the fire, my loving family, homemade pumpkin bread, friends, autumn leaves, time at the library to write, a warm house, a God who loves us and is sovereign and always faithful, whatever trials life holds. Help me have a more thankful heart, Lord.

What are you thankful for today?