Even fallen leaves serve a grander purpose.  I can’t imagine jumping up and down when someone comes knocking on my door telling me I get to go rake up all my leaves. Lately, when I inform the girls that we can go play outside, there are loud pleas for their using the rakes and shuffling leaves all over the place. They take this self-imposed duty quite seriously half the time—pretending their father is a relentless taskmaster. I find myself stating, “you may go rake leaves” and they respond like its Christmas morning.

One of the joys they find in raking leaves is clearing out little paths for riding their bicycles all over the backyard. They’ll make a long coiled-snake-of-a-path and then ride as fast as they can until it ends in a big pile of leaves. Even better are those days when a neighbor’s outside cat joins in, jumping around the leaves and running all across the girls’ path.

The girls’ excitement over the leaves reminds me what I have forgotten about being so young and new to the idea of raking leaves. Yes, leaves provide nutrients to the soil, vegetation for all sorts of insects, comfort and warmth for burrowing animals, and even homes for the least desirable creatures. However, the Lord designed the beauty of natural science through this plant life, what’s more even the joy of autumn play for His children. We do well to remember the Lord’s desire for enjoyment in these seasons. The duty of raking isn’t merely for keeping a yard clean, but for enjoying His fabulous designs and watching others do the same. Such fallen leaves ought to compel us to see the way the Lord is glorified and appreciated for thoughtful and imaginative play. He is the God both of purpose and pleasure. Let us remember what it is like to remember our first love, be excited about His gifts, and receive even the joys of the “normal” textures of the season.

How are you appreciating the design of your Father’s world today? Perhaps you ought to get out there and crunch some leaves—smiling with the Savior at His good work. While the things of this world fall and disintegrate, yet the leaves of our salvation remain green everlastingly (Proverbs 11:28; Jeremiah 17:8).

Pastor Chris