When Will the Leaves Stop Falling? by Amanda Almond

My family and I just recently made a big move…

It may not be big to many, but it was big for me. We moved five hours away from my family. You see, I have lived my entire life very near them all. I was close to my mom and dad, my grandmothers, and my brother and his children. It was hard. I left not only family, but friends, and an entire support system. 

We are very happy in our new home, we live in the North Georgia mountains. Who could not be happy with a mountain in their backyard? Our move has brought with it a lot of changes for my family…it’s been tough for me. My husband works as a truck driver and is gone a large portion of the time. This pretty much leaves me as a solo-parent a lot. I’m adjusting.  With four young children it can be quite challenging at times, but I am working to overcome those challenges. I am trying to remain strong.  

This poem started rolling around in my mind one day as I watched my oldest child raking leaves in the front yard. She worked so very hard to rake those leaves. It was a futile attempt. It was early fall and the leaves were just beginning to drop, but I let her rake.  She was working with sheer determination. She was a girl on a mission. Like the challenges that I was facing in my life, the leaves just would not stop falling…

When Will the Leaves Stop Falling?

by Amanda Almond

My child asked one day after raking and raking and raking, “When are the leaves going to stop? I just raked this yesterday and the day before.”
Oh, baby girl…

The leaves are going to keep coming for a good, long while.
They WILL stop, but when they do…
the frost will make its big debut.
The cold will bite, pipes can freeze…
the ice will sag, tug, pull down trees.
When it departs, spring arrives…
tiny birds, beautiful flowers, butterflies.
Oh, don’t forget bugs and weeds…
these things, too, you will see.
Next, summer is beaches and barbeques…
you’ll experience droughts and a fierce storm or two.
Promise me this as you go through life…
every once in a while,
Stop!
Catch your breath…
step away from the strife.
Look carefully past the toils and pain:
take a break, walk outside, dance in the rain.
If the creeks are dry, look for animal tracks…
catch a few bugs, study them, appreciate them, then put them back.
Remember even weeds make a delightful bouquet…
and marvel at your frosted breath on the coldest days.
But now is the season for falling leaves…
rake them.
Don’t give up…
but, do one thing for me, please.
Set down your rake, get a running start…
jump into the pile and laugh with all your heart.
Toss them in the air…
marvel at their color, their shape, their smell.
I see that smile, it suits you well.
Life has seasons, my sweet, sweet child.
Each season brings with it hardships, some of them harsh, some quite mild.
The difficult times can get downright depressing.
But each season also brings beauty and blessing.
Please take the time to notice God’s grace…
The falling leaves, the sun light on your face.
Life is a wonderful, amazing gift…
but it glides right past you and it moves quite swift.
Not one instant do I wish you to miss…
unwrap your life…experience it in all its fullness.
Take nothing for granted…
make the most of what you’re handed.
And always find a reason to smile.

Now gumballs are another story. Don’t get me started on the gumballs…

Amanda Almond: I am a former Kindergarten teacher, leaving the profession to be a stay-home mom to my first-born child, a daughter. Now, almost 8 years later, I am still a stay-home, but also find myself once again teaching. This time around, I am teaching my own kids. I am now a homeschooling mommy. I spend a lot of time with just my 4 girls because my husband is a truck driver. Our favorite place is the outdoors and we love exploring state parks. I have recently decided to begin sharing my life with anyone who would like to read my stories. It is therapeutic for me and hopefully someone can benefit from reading about our wild and crazy life. You can see more of my work on Facebook or by visiting my blog, Peanut Butter in My Hairbrush.

~If you are interested in seeing your poetry appear in this blog, or submitting a poem by a woman that has inspired you, please click here for submission guidelines. I greatly look forward to hearing from you!~