Embracing November: Faith and Gratitude

🍁 To Everything There Is a Season: Faith-Filled Reflections for November

Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To everything there is a season…” and in verse 11, he added, “God has made everything beautiful in its time.”

November always sneaks up on me with its quiet beauty.
Weekend walks by the river – peaceful moments for WAHMs in Arkansas 

  Each season carries its own loveliness, but November… “oh, November!”   always surprises me with its quiet splendor here in the heart of Arkansas.

I seem to forget, year after year, just how much I truly enjoy this month.

The serenity of November wraps around me like a soft shawl.

On weekends, we walk along our country road by the River, gathering fuzzy cattails and sprigs of dogwood to tuck into antique crocks for a simple, seasonal display. The wild geese overhead, the ducks taking flight, and the squirrels rustling through the underbrush… all of it fills me with delight.

Sometimes, I hear music in my head. To my family’s amusement (or dismay!), I burst into song…

Hymns like “Thank You, Lord,” “This Is My Father’s World,” and “We Gather Together.” These melodies echo the gratitude in my heart and remind me of the deep spiritual heritage we carry.

🌞 Indian Summer & the Call to Slow Down

When the warmth lingers, the elders around here call it Indian Summer. It’s during these golden days that the hymn “Be Still, My Soul” plays softly in my mind. Psalm 46:10 says, “Cease striving…” and I believe God uses nature’s beauty to gently call us to slow down, breathe, and reflect.

Did you know the Israelites celebrated the Feast of Ingathering each fall? They gathered fruits and branches to build shelters and honor the harvest… a divine command under Mosaic Law. The Pilgrims understood this rhythm of gratitude and reflected it in their own Feast of Thanksgiving.

a coffee bar
Decorated in Autumn Decorating with kids at home – celebrating the Feast of Ingathering with little hands

🕊️ Our Family’s November Tradition

In our home, November is all about the Pilgrims. We’ve collected books, DVDs, audiobooks, and music that reflect their journey and faith. There’s no need to travel far, no commercial frenzy, just quiet mornings with soft instrumental hymns, many drawn from the Pilgrims’ own diaries.

At breakfast, we reflect on their sacrifices and the challenges they overcame. We read stories, listen to CDs, and talk about how God was with them, and is always with us, too. This tradition has strengthened my faith, and I pray it’s doing the same for my husband and son.

🙏 A Gentle Reminder for Thanksgiving

As you celebrate Thanksgiving in your own way, remember this truth:

2 Peter 1:3:
“God’s divine power has granted to us everything that pertains to life and godliness.”

Let November be a time to slow down, gather beauty, and reflect on the goodness of God. Whether you’re walking country roads or chasing toddlers around the kitchen, His presence is near.

our back garden in autumn September
Decorating outside for Autumn is a wonderful September activity

💬 Let’s Share Gratitude Together

Do you have a favorite November tradition or hymn that brings peace to your heart?

I’d love to hear how you and your family celebrate this season of gratitude.

Drop a comment below and let’s encourage one another with stories of faith, family, & fall beauty. 🍂💛

serenity

So let’s all Be Still… and Be Thankful!

8 thoughts on “Embracing November: Faith and Gratitude”

  1. So your family lives in Arkansas now, Blue Willow? I am a bit puzzled. I remember that your family moved from Arkansas to Pennsylvania two days before Christmas, in 2011.

    Reading your lines, I feel the inner peace in your heart and the joy you share with your family. Next week, Thanksgiving Day in America is on the way, isn’t it?

    Obviously, you and your family are deeply religious. I respect your faith. I am an atheist, but I have been reading the English Bible to study the language. It is the standard version. Although I don’t think I will be converted, I love the Biblical narratives. I was wondering what version of the Bible you and your family read. Any suggestions for me?

    November is a beautiful season here in my area of China, too. A lot of wildflowers are in bloom on the hills, especially chrysanthemums. The air is cool and refreshing. We do not have big celebrations or festivals this month, but I love it. Not very cold, definitely not hot, the weather helps me stay alert and productive in my work.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much for your thoughtful message. Your description of November in China is beautiful. I can almost picture the hills and chrysanthemums. What a gift to live in a place where the air refreshes you & helps you work with a clear mind.

      Our family’s journey has had a few chapters, & we’re grateful for each one. Arkansas has been a peaceful place for us in this season. We returned to Arkansas in 2018 because my husband’s mother had some health issues & we wanted to care for her. She is doing well now.

      Your words about finding peace in my writing mean a lot to me (& yes, Thanksgiving is almost here).

      It’s a simple holiday we enjoy… mostly food, family, & gratitude.

      I appreciate your kindness about my faith. It means more than you know. Many people begin reading the B ible through the N I V because the language is clear & gentle for everyday reading. For study, I prefer the New King James, altho it is not so popular here in the States. But the one I read when I just want to take it all in is the MESSAGE… especially for on quiet mornings in my prayer time to the Creator.

      Thank you again for sharing a little of your world with me.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I have got 3 digital versions of Holy Bible at hand, English Standard Version, New International Version, and King James Version. I focus on ESV, while consulting NIV and KJV as references. It is a pity that I did not start reading the Holy Bible earlier. As you might know, religions are not encouraged in my country.

        The language of ESV stands in clarity and difficulty between NIV and KJV, with the former easiest and the latter archaic. When I have trouble with a phrase and a sentence reading ESV, I refer to the other two to facilitate my comprehension. At times, I find the three versions differ from each other on a point. That might result from the fact that the Bible was not written originally in English. It was rendered from Greek or Hebrew.

        Some bloggers on WordPress are not very friendly, but I find we are on the same wavelength. Thanks to the platform, I am sure we will learn more about each other as we interact more this way. Many thanks, Blue Willow. I hope you do not mind me using this title addressing you.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Not at all, and my first name is Dawn! What may I call you?

          I am so happy that you compare translations of the B i b l e. I have a very old commentary that was my father in law’s and it gives me many new perspectives on the Word. My husband and I are currently studying the New Testament Book of Hebrews.

          I home-educated my son, who is now 22 year old. In 1st grade, we hired a tutor from Beijing who helped him study Mandarin. We learned much about the culture of China during his studies. We really love China!

          Liked by 2 people

          1. I am so glad you paid a Chinese tutor to teach your son our language. The best way to understand a nation is to study its language. My first English lesson was taken in 1982. English is a compulsory subject on the secondary school curriculum in my country. I majored in English in college, but it was only a two-year programme. Today I think you understand your country and the English-speaking world much better than before, thanks to my improved proficiency.

            So far, I have covered approximately 10% of the Bible, and the benefits abound. While I was in college, one of my teachers recommended us reading the Bible. At that time, there was no Internet access. Printed English Bibles were next to impossible to get in China. The Web has given me free access to all the different version of the Holy Bible. These days, I read a section almost every day. As far as I know, Judaism, the Hebrew faith, came much before Christianity, and it even influenced the birth of Islam.

            Just call me Shengliver, Dawn. I hope you elaborate on the gaming addiction issue in your own family, if it is convenient to you. Another issue I hope to hear more about from you is the reason why you chose to homeschool your son. Homeschooling is not a mainstream educational approach, I suppose. In my country, very few parents walk this path. At least around me, not one parent, as far as I know, has homeschooled their kids. Some kids and teens, who cannot adapt to regular school, have to attend very special institutes, whose number is very small.

            Looking forward to your reply, Dawn.

            Liked by 1 person

          2. Dear Shengliver,

            Studying Mandarin was a wonderful opportunity to learn a new language and discover a different culture. Our boy studied for 3 years, then decided to study Japanese. I am glad you studied English; your essays are interesting!

            My favorite passage in the Bible currently is Psalm 119… the whole chapter. It is the longest chapter in the bible, and I love it. My husband and I are challenging each other to read or listen to that chapter daily in 2026; it is that good!

            As far as Homeschooling, it was a blessing for our family. Many in the USA home educate. As for the other issues you mentioned, I wonder if we could discuss this on a more private place.

            I would love your opinion on this, but not here on the blog. Please advise if you would like to chat more in email or some other way.

            Liked by 1 person

  2. Thank you for the reminder, Dawn. Yes, the blog is in the public domain. I am not an expert in the issue, but I would be all ears if you were willing to share with me. Could you please send your message to shengliver@hotmail.com? It is my email address. I would appreciate it if you did write, Dawn. I have witnessed a lot of such cases among my pupils.

    Psalm 119 sits somewhere in the middle of the whole Bible, Old and New Testaments. I have not gone that far in my reading, but I checked it out after I got your reply. The chapter is all about praises to God. It sounds like musical poetry.

    I have made an important discovery by perusing the Holy Work. That is, rich synonyms are employed throughout the book. Because I use 3 versions simultaneously, I have found that the three versions use different words for an idea. For example, 23.19 goes, You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk. (ESV) Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk. (KJV) Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk. (NIV) This application of synonyms, boil, seethe and cook, is very beneficial to my English.

    As I delve deeper into the Bible, I could consult you should I have any confusion, Dawn.

    Wish you and your family peace and joy there.

    Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment