Fall, the Season of Change

Chaplain Liz Danielsen
October 2025

God is preparing us for the change of season from summer to fall. The fall season brings apples, pumpkins, apple pie, apple cider, hayrides, crisp walks, and so much more. We get to observe the beauty of change. Leaves begin to change color and fall from the branches of the trees as the temperature drops and the days grow shorter. Just as the seasons bring change to nature, we, too, experience change, especially those who are walking through loss.

At the beginning of my grief journey, I felt both physical and emotional changes. They were intense and frequent, but as time went on, those changes slowly subsided. After my husband Arvid died, I entered a season of mourning where I had to process my grief. I found ways to remember and honor my husband, and over time, I’ve adjusted to life without his physical presence.

Our lives, like the trees, must change as well. I don’t particularly enjoy the mess that falling leaves create in my yard. Raking leaves is demanding work, just as finding a new identity after loss can feel exhausting. Yet we must embrace the times of letting go, being grateful for the blessings we still have, even when our hearts long for the person who is no longer with us. Reflection and a willingness to prepare for new growth by shedding “old leaves” are necessary for the season of healing.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven” (KJV). Are you willing to make the changes necessary during this fall season? It may feel impossible to imagine finding purpose again after loss, but it is possible. God can help you.

If you’d like to talk or need support, contact me at chaplainliz@danielsencenter.org.