The Chill of an Early Fall

For those of you who are George Strait fans, the title of tonight's post may remind you of one his songs.

"Oh how quick they slip away, here today and gone tomorrow. Love and seasons never stay, bitter winds are sure to follow."

As we come to the midpoint of September, cooler weather is beginning to set in; the air is getting thinner, and the seasons prepare to make another transition.

When this time of year comes, I can't help but be filled with an enthusiasm for Friday night and Saturday afternoon football. Back when I was a small town school girl, I used to dread that first day of school, but had hope because that meant football season, cooler weather and the opportunity to wear a different wardrobe was upon me.

While it may mean different things to different people, Friday nights in a small town always have a magic to them. It's a time when the whole town comes out in united support for the home team. It's a time when everyone visits with one another, friends sit with friends, and you say hello to just about everyone as you make your way to the concession stand. Even once you get to the concession stand you usually spend a whole quarter of the game talking to someone about important things, like how the basketball team is going to be when they start playing.

There was always an excitement to me with the coming of fall. No more hot, sweaty days of summer. Plus, it gave me a chance to wear a jacket, and I LOVE jackets.

Anyway, my point here folks is that the excitement of fall, in my mind, translates into a love of what it brings: unity.

We're all on the same team.

Again, this is another post of me rambling about something that is going on 600 miles away (or 557 depending on which route you take). But, it's an issue that affects my family, so it concerns me.

"Oh how quick they slip away, here today and gone tomorrow. Love and seasons never stay, bitter winds are sure to follow."

While George may be singing about a lost love and how it's going to drive him to drinking, I interpret this line a little different in application to the situation in PG.

A great friend of the family once told my dad, "At one point in your life, you will realize who your true friends really are."

I've never felt the meaning of that like I have recently.

At the end of the day, all of us really only have three things that truly matter: our faith, our family and our friends. Without these things, we would all be living meaningless lives. I will speak for myself on this, but those three things are the root of my happiness. Without them, I am empty.

"Oh how quick they slip away, here today and gone tomorrow. Love and seasons never stay, bitter winds are sure to follow."

The kind of friends that are here today and gone tomorrow...it is inevitable that we will all experience friendships like these. Sometimes it takes a nasty situation to bring true colors to the surface, but regardless, it will happen at least once to all of us. And when it does, disappointment sets in and hurt overcomes you. And sometimes, it's the people you would least expect.

The choice that follows is whether or not we allow those "bitter winds" to follow.