The tree’s shape is perfect, and the leaves sport a gorgeous, bright orange. This tree stands out against its still green pine tree and magnolia companions. What a treat for the eyes! Each fall presents us with the colorful delight of trees exchanging their array of green leaves for a dramatic display in a range of beautiful reds, cheery yellows, and splashy oranges before they finally turn brown and fall to the ground. Every fall without fail, God’s forests present us with a colorful treat to enjoy. We can climb in our cars or join others on busses to seek out some of the most beautiful places to enjoy God’s glorious displays. Whether in the mountains or along our highways, and in our neighborhoods, we enjoy the colorful changes of fall.

If we keep our senses alert and our appreciation buttons on the ready, we can also learn to appreciate the wide variety of people and personalities in God’s great world. Some of us are tall and stately, some of us are shorter and sturdy, but each of us is unique with our special set of characteristics that serve a distinctive purpose.  It takes an open mind and sometimes requires patience to see beneath the surface of people around us for characteristics and qualities that make each person worthwhile. Sometimes we need to overlook the thorns or scraggly branches to discover the sweet sap inside a person. Sometimes we must wait and pray while a person is discarding old habits and appearances for God’s anointing of His character and attributes to become visible. Always, it is worth our kindness and caring guidance to foster and encourage the best in people around us. First and foremost, we can present ourselves to God, asking Him to help us to personally display the qualities He wants to use so that we are a blessing to those around us. We can ask God to help us be His instrument of compassion which brings His transformative color into the lives around us.