Jack Frost

By Charlotte Riegel –

What a glorious summer we had this year. Playing with plants in my yard and in our community was delightful. But alas, the seasons change and the flowers die as Jack Frost visits our little corner of the world. The warmth of summer always seems too short.

As I cleaned out dead plant material from flower beds and planters it was a struggle to feel positive. I was reminded autumn is part of the natural rhythm of nature.

Jack Frost, like John the Baptist, is a forerunner of what is soon to come. Autumn is the herald of winter, warning us to prepare. It’s time to make sure our furnace is working properly, to empty the water barrels, to turn off the outside taps, to collect any remaining garden produce, etc. I was also reminded to look for the beauty of this season.

I was still working on this attitude adjustment when, BAM, winter arrived. Earlier than I wished, but nonetheless, we had heeded the warning and were ready.

It all reminded me of the ten virgins and their waiting for the bridegroom, some were ready and others were not. These changing seasons are also a natural reminder to prepare for the coming of Jesus.

Will you be like the five wise virgins or will you be like the foolish ones? We don’t know exactly when He will come but we are reminded in His word that He IS coming again and we are to be ready.

Father God, thank you for the many warning signs you give us, both for the changing seasons and for the return of Jesus.

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut” (Matthew 25:1-10 NIV).