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Fall/Autumn is my favorite time of year. We are coming off of the unbearable heat from summer and heading towards the cold of winter. The landscape is a painting of reds, yellows, browns and other earth tones.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autumn

“The word autumn is derived from Latin autumnus, archaic auctumnus, possibly from the ancient Etruscan root autu- and has within it connotations of the passing of the year.”

Wikipedia article

The Weather is Changing

The sun feels different. It has softened its glare. It wants to warm us and not scorch.

The temperatures are warm during the day but cool in the morning and evening. It is a great time to sit by a fire, wood-burning of course.

Bringing in the Sheaves

Thinking of fall reminded me of the hymn “Bringing in the Sheaves”.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bringing_In_the_Sheaves

I’ve sung it all my life and have seen it on television being sung. I’ve never known what a “sheaf” is so I looked it up.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheaf_(agriculture)

“A sheaf is a bunch of cereal-crop stems bound together after reaping, traditionally by sickle, later by sythe or, after its introduction in 1872, by mechanical reaper-binder”

Wikipedia article

According to the article, the hymn was based on Psalm 126:6

Those who go out weeping,

    carrying seed to sow,

will return with songs of joy,

    carrying sheaves with them.

New International Version

We Shall Come Rejoicing

We sow and reap all throughout the year, but fear not. Smiles, laughter, anger, frustration, sadness, and tears. Fear now for there will come a day where we will rejoice with singing and bring back with us the sheaves from our sowing.

Sowing in the morning,

sowing seeds of kindness,

Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;

Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain:Bringing in the sheaves,

bringing in the sheaves,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves,

Bringing in the sheaves,

bringing in the sheaves,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Sowing in the sunshine,

sowing in the shadows,

Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;

By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain

Going forth with weeping,

sowing for the Master,

Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;

When our weeping’s over,

He will bid us welcome,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain

 “429. Bringing In the Sheaves”. Harry Plantinga. Retrieved 2020-09-09.