I can remember a time when autumn was simply amazing.

Cool breezes on amber days.

Fallen leaves in colors one could only imagine.

Yet, here they were … a mix of hues intertwined.

Yellows, oranges, reds and browns … each a masterpiece all its own, appearing as if strategically placed by the author, himself, who created them.

And every time the wind blew, you could somehow detect a faint glimpse of what heaven must smell like.

Hints of pumpkin, apple, cinnamon … collectively filling the air.

Autumn used to be a beautiful time.

At least in my mind.

But all things change.

You learn to look at life a little differently through every blink.

Autumn would bring with it a transition.

No longer were the days of abhorrent heat and oppresive humidity, as summer had been replaced with quiet, comfortable moments we wished would never end.

When it comes to fall … the possibilities are endless.

What’s not to love?

Hayrides.

Long walks.

Football games.

Pumpkin pie.

Halloween.

Thanksgiving.

Flannel shirts.

Cozy sweaters.

Bonfires.

Remembering what you are thankful for.

Fall festivals.

Pumpkin patches.

Apple picking.

Planting mums.

Jumping into a pile of leaves.

Going on a bike ride.

Watching scary movies.

Making homemade chili or vegetable soup.

Baking apple or pumpkin pies.

Sipping apple cider.

Roasting marshmallows.

Lighting fragrant autumn candles.

Beginning your Christmas shopping.

Corn mazes.

Road trips to view the colorful hillsides.

Hiking.

Camping.

Farmer’s markets.

Haunted houses.

Oktoberfest.

Warm, fuzzy blankets.

Sitting by the fireplace.

Lying underneath the stars.

Carving pumpkins.

Smiling at trick-or-treaters.

Holding your child’s hand while trick-or-treating.

Autumn holds so much hope, so much happiness if you let it.

But of course, all things must finally come to an end.

It feels as if autumn passes us by more quickly than any other season.

And in only a matter of blinks, it is suddenly gone.

But then again, that is, after all, autumn’s lesson to us, isn’t it?

It’s message is to remind us of how one day, everything that was once so seemingly beautiful and perfect will at some point be gone, only to be replaced with a darkness and feelings of being cold and left empty.

Winter happens to us all.

As the seasons change, we have to learn how to say goodbye to those days that we loved and those days that loved us right back.

Days which made us happy.

Days that were filled with just so much contentment.

Enjoyment.

And instead, we must learn to welcome what lies ahead.

It took me a while to realize why God gives us these seasons.

But there is always a lesson to be taught.

And there is always a lesson to be learned.

Those small, quiet perfect moments during autumn … they are rare.

They are few, and they are fleeting.

But if you watch for them, they are there.

I always refer to my life’s special moments as being like the fall.

For each possesses a beauty that is unlike any other.

Such beauty can be found in knowing I have three boys whom I adore more than I ever could think possible.

The beauty lies in having a grandson who is literally the owner of my heart.

It lies in my being fortunate enough to still have my mother and my step-dad in my life each and every day.

It lies in the fact that I am still able to have a nice roof over my head for this moment.

I realize that it is only a matter of blinks until we will have to say goodbye to the autumn, once again.

And in its place, will come a darkness and a bareness I could certainly do without.

But it, too, teaches us a lesson.

It’s as if to say that we all will have our struggles in life.

We all will have our problems.

There will be days we will not want to get out of bed.

There will be moments where we are frozen in place and cannot find a way in which to warm ourselves and make the pain go away.

But just like the autumn, just like the spring and the summer … these difficult times will not last.

No matter how many days you find yourself filled with a darkness, filled with a bareness that surrounds you, when there are days that leave you feeling like you are alone and are nothing except for cold and empty, I hope you understand that these feelings, these moments will pass.

Winter is only for a season.

And there will always, always be another autumn for you to love.

(Stenger is the community editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times. She can be contacted at jstenger@heraldstaronline.com.)