“Drop it!” I yell as I inch closer to the slobbery slippers being munched by my dog. We stare at each other for a while, until he finally lets go, long enough so I can snatch my shoes away. I quickly reward him with a treat, and all is well, soggy shoes and all. If only my dog knew that there are better things than slippers to chew on. This bad habit of his has been tough to break, but we’re working on it. When you think about it, we humans are no different. We cling to our metaphorical shoes because we don’t realize there’s something better out there for us. We just have to let go and wait.

A season of letting go

As I look out my window, I am greeted by the beautiful foliage that runs through my backyard. Some plants only last just before the first frost, while other trees remain full and upright amidst the cold weather. Leaves trickle down every minute and collect in stomp-worthy piles, ready for the next pair of boots to *crunch-crunch-crunch*. The wind whispers through the air in peaceful hums. Fall has arrived. Being on this side of the globe, I’ve always loved the latter seasons of the year, fall and winter. If spring and summer are about growing and harvesting, then fall and winter are seasons meant for letting go and waiting. Our lives are riddled with seasons of change. This year alone felt so unpredictable with each passing day, yet here we are, welcoming the last few months of the year. The name says it all: fall. Warm-weather plants surrender their leaves, flowers wilt and brown, and even tall and burly trees are bald by the end of the year. During this season, we can learn a thing or two about letting go. Perhaps we can start letting go of our need for controlling things amidst an uncontrollable world. Maybe it’s time to reconsider that long-time grudge against someone in need of forgiveness. Or is it about facing our vices and seeking healing for our wounds? Maybe letting go is uttering these five powerful words: “Jesus I trust in You.” What areas of your life do you need to let go of? What areas do you need to surrender to our God? Whatever it is, whatever you’re holding onto, learn from the leaves and let go. Look at the plants around you and listen to their poetry: It’s okay to fall. It’s okay to wilt. It’s okay to let go. This does not make you weak, unworthy, or unlovable. It makes you resilient. Just look at the bright autumn leaves saturated with hope. Check out the leafless trees, and see how beautifully they frame the sky. Change is scary and often uncomfortable, but it can also be beautiful!

Let Him catch you when you fall

And don’t forget that you’re not alone. Many moons ago, I confided to a friend about worries that weighed heavily on my heart. What she said next, I will never forget: "I think you're putting too much pressure on yourself to be the hero. You don't have to be the hero. Let Jesus do that for you." My friend was right: I’m not the hero because Jesus is already our Saviour. All I have to do is let Him. Let’s remember that there is a Father who will catch us when we fall and pick up the pieces of our hearts that we surrender to Him. In truth, He wants all of me and all of you, all the time. But He will take whatever we give Him, and He’ll hold it for you and me. So let go, and let God.