“In autumn, the leaves start to change color.
They change to red, yellow, and brown.
In autumn, the leaves start to fall off of the trees.
That is why autumn is also called the fall.”
Autumn is the greatest season ever. It marks the transition from summer into winter when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier and the temperature cools considerably. It is also the best time for appreciating the beauty of shade trees as they pave way for further growth.
At present, we are joining the greatest time of a year and it is almost the end of Autumn. Thus, in this series, English Corner would like to share you- my readers- a short story in order to let you live leisurely and enjoy reflecting your life in this great atmosphere.
As I remember, it was a precious little story that I had seen a second grade teacher tell her class several years ago. It was so cute and she did such a wonderful job with it. Because her story shows us how to live our lives. The story: “The Anxious Leaf”
“…Once upon a time a little leaf name Abigail was heard to sigh and cry, as leaves often do when a gentle wind blows. And the twig said, “What is the matter Abigail?” And Abigail replied, “The wind just told me that one day it will pull me right off this tree and throw me down on the ground where I will be left to die.”
The twig told the branch on which it grew and then the branch told the tree. And when the tree heard it, it rustled all over, and sent back word to the little leaf. “Do not be afraid. Hold on tightly, and you shall not go until you are ready… and willingly let go.”
Abigail was still a little “anxious” and held on tightly whenever the wind blew and she grew stronger with time…to the point that she thought nothing could ever pull her off. And so it went all summer long…until October.
And when the bright days of autumn came Abigail saw all the leaves around her becoming very beautiful. Some were yellow, some scarlet, and some striped with both colors. She then sent word through her friend Twig, to his friend Branch to the Tree that she wondered what was happening to the leaves with all the bright colors. Tree sent her a message; “All these leaves are getting ready to fly away, and they have put on these beautiful colors because of the joy they feel about their upcoming adventure.”
Slowly Abigail began to realize that she didn’t want to be the only dull colored leaf left all by herself…she wanted to be pretty and joyful too…so she began to grow more beautiful each day because of the way she now thought about things…about letting go.
But as she grew more beautiful, she began to notice that the branches of the tree no longer had bright colors in them, and so she sent a message through her friend, Twig, to Branch, and asked, “Oh branches, why are you lead-color while we are golden?”
She received the message back through Twig: “We must keep on our work clothes, for our life is not done….but your clothes are for a journey, a celebration where you will feel much love…because your tasks are over.
Before Abigail could ask Branch more questions, a little puff of wind came and Abigail let go without even thinking about it. The wind took her up and turned her over higher and higher. Abigail squealed with the freedom and excitement of it all.
As she looked down, the world was so beautiful. Suddenly she began whirling and whirling like a spark of fire in the air…until she was gently placed among her friends in a pile of leaves at the edge of a fence. Everyone was so happy to be back together at last. Abigail tingled with joy and with the warmth of so much love.”
The second grade teacher then smiled and said, “Last weekend my husband and I were riding in the country and saw the most beautiful leaves beside a white fence. Does anybody know who was in the pile?
The class replied enthusiastically in unison: “Abigail!” - “That’s right,...” said the teacher “… so I brought her and her scarlet and yellow leaf friends home and turned them into a wreath so she will always be close to me.”
One little girl added, “So she will always be loved.”
“That’s right,” said her teacher, “...so she will always be loved.” The teacher then showed the class a fall wreath and pointed to one leaf …saying that was “Abigail.” She then placed the wreath on a hook on the door and said that they would always remember the story when they entered and left the classroom and they could always love Abigail.
What a remarkable teacher! And what a wonderful story about not worrying about the cycles in life but letting ourselves become more beautiful in faith... and then knowing when to let go. But of course the main theme was and always is- love always wins in the end! So until tomorrow...admire the beauty of the leaves and rejoice when each lets go... because the best is yet to be.