A Lovely Gift on a Perfect Autumn Day

Fall sweeps in bringing thoughts of warm pumpkin spice lattes, savory roasted nuts, and crisp apple cider. The glorious crimson, yellow, and orange hues excite the imagination as we recall the familiar smoky smell of bonfires. Sunny afternoons give way to chilly evenings at the high school stadium where cheers fill the night.

A Lovely Gift to the Community

Recently Huntsville Botanical Gardens gave the entire community a truly lovely gift. They invited everyone to enjoy the autumn splendor free of charge. It was a warm Sunday afternoon when my husband and I strolled through the beautifully manicured grounds. Scarecrows placed by local companies delighted young and old alike. Hay bales loaded with bright orange pumpkins, multicolored gourds, and occasional white pumpkins provided the perfect background for photo ops. One water feature displayed several floating pumpkins. Looking up at a stately oak tree, I noticed its leaves were turning to brilliant shades of yellow and red.

Young couples, older adults, and families enjoyed the free garden day. A little girl with blonde curls stood stock still with her hand outstretched in the butterfly house, hoping an exquisite Monarch might alight. “Granpa,” asked a curious preschooler pointing at a rustic shack, “did you live in a house like that when you were little?” Next to a picturesque bridge, a sleepy turtle basked in the sun's warmth. Grey-headed lovers meandered hand in hand along the flowered paths.

God's Beautiful Gift to Us

This free day at the gardens was a blessing for the community. Walking through the wooded paths, I reflected on God’s amazing gift to us. In Romans 4:22-24 we read these words:

“This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Unlike the one-time event at the botanical gardens, the gift of God’s grace leading to salvation is always available to us. Although it is free for us, it does come at a tremendous price. Jesus chose to leave Heaven and be born as a man, experiencing all the temptations, trials, and turmoil that characterize human life. He remained sinless, thereby earning the right to take our sins upon Himself when He suffered and died on the cross. If He had remained in the grave, nothing would have been accomplished, but He did not. His resurrection on the third day destroyed the devastating effects of death for everyone who puts their trust in Christ.

The hope that Christ-followers possess assures us of an eternity in the glorious presence of God. The beauty we see as we wander along garden paths is merely a dim reflection of the splendor we will enjoy in eternity. We have been blessed beyond measure with this hope, but we must not keep it to ourselves. Every day we encounter people who need to know about the lovely gift of God’s grace. Ask your heavenly Father to lead you to people who need Him, to fill you with His love for them, and to give you the words you need to speak life to them.