Confusing subject? No, I'm not masochistic and I am certainly not someone who takes great pleasure in pain. What I'm referring to when I say "Beautiful Death" is the Autumn...my favorite time of year. I'm sitting at my kitchen table right now and directly ahead of me is a window to my backyard. The leaves on the trees are orange and yellow, the bushes are all red and the ground is covered with leaves that have turned their final color: brown. (Let's all have a moment of pity for Steven & I at the vast amount of raking that lies ahead for us...sigh...ok, moving on). Brown, red, orange, and yellow...it's like Pottery Barn out there! It's so amazing and beautiful and it's all dying!!! These are the colors that comes with fall, with death. It's a death that is not creepy or sad b/c we know that it will turn back in to life again. So we enjoy it, take pictures, and decorate our houses in the same colors we see outside. It makes me wonder what has "died" or is "dying" in my life that is leading to new life, new beginnings, and that can actually be a source of joy for me. Let me just take a moment to say that I am not talking about a person or loved one dying. That is an entirely different story. Here's an example, before I met Steven, I was dating someone else. When this relationship began to turn south and die it was really painful for me. It was also absolutely necessary! Had it not been for that death, I would not have found the life I have with Steven today. I think our relationships, ideas, dreams, and plans are constantly in a state of death and rebirth. My prayer for all of us today is that we would trust that God has our best in mind so that even if we find ourselves having to let go of something, we know that God will fill our empty hands back up. Amanda :-) P.S. If you're open to sharing, I'd love to hear about the "deaths" you've experienced, and the life they've led to.