10 Prayers for Autumn

1 ^{of 10}

How glorious Your paint box, Lord,
and the copper, gold, rust and amber You color Your creation.

2 ^{of 10}

I listen to the crunch of an apple and hear the music of autumn. 
O, taste and see.

3 ^{of 10}

How innumerable the seeds in a pumpkin,
as wondrous as Your thoughts.

4 ^{of 10}

But why do I never notice Your acorns until they fall from the tree? 

5 ^{of 10}

Marching bands, homecoming floats, tail-gating picnics and touchdowns,
we give thanks for these.

6 ^{of 10}

The last of the corn and the first frost,
they come with the harvest moon.

7 ^{of 10}

But guard us, Lord, from the first cough and the first cold.

8 ^{of 10}

For your mercies extend farther than any shooting star that drops from the sky.

9 ^{of 10}

We dig out our woolens and parkas and warm up by the fire.

10 ^{of 10}

Soon with turkey and stuffing and the sweetest yams,
we will give our best Thanksgiving to You.

–Rick Hamlin, Guideposts executive editor