Have you heard them recently? The trees, that is. I know you must have, as they are impossible to miss this time of year. These days the trees are practically shouting their praises to God all day long. At least that’s how it is here in the Midwest, where the trees celebrate autumn by turning their leaves every shade imaginable, including multiple shades of yellows, golds, oranges, reds, russets and colors I don’t even have names for, that manifest themselves when the sunlight hits their leaves. It’s as if the trees are participating in one last choral festival of celebration and worship before they lose their leaves and fall silent until spring comes to wake them up again.

In Psalms I read – “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4)

However, the trees are definitely getting in on the action of declaring God’s glory and they are giving the heavens some stiff competition. I can’t help but notice that the trees have become especially vocal as they glorify God with their vibrant, breath-taking array of colors, with every leaf on every branch declaring their Maker’s praises! It is beautiful to behold! And the heavens are participating by providing the perfect backdrop to display these multicolored talking trees. The skies are turning the most beautiful shade of clear, bright blue – nothing like an October sky!

Everywhere I look, I see trees displaying their colors, their branches lifted to heaven, leaves laughing in the wind. I see them, I hear them, I am drawn into their celebration of God who created them. The chatter of the trees seems only to increase as more and more of their leaves turn from green to the bright colors of autumn, until their praise and worship symphony are at full volume, drawing me completely into their celebration of joy and thanksgiving. It is inescapable. (not that I want to escape) I go outside and my spirits are lifted into joy, as I walk in the presence of God’s talking trees. I can’t help but offer up my own praise, worship and thanksgiving to God, following the example of the talking trees that seem to be everywhere I look, each one more glorious than the last.

So today, I say “thank you talking trees” – thank you for letting your lights/leaves shine, giving glory to Your Creator, my Heavenly Father. Thank you for reminding me of God’s constant, glorious presence and for inviting me to join with you in thanking Him and in praising His name. Truly, the talking trees of autumn are one of the best, of God’s many “good and perfect” gifts. Surely, these words ring true –

“This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears, all nature sings and ’round me rings, the music of the spheres. (and of the talking trees) This is my Father’s world; I rest me in the thought, of rocks and trees, of skies and seas – His hand the wonders wrought.”

Thank You God for the talking trees of autumn!

sincerely, Grace Day