Fall Wreath of Thankfulness

My interior decorator friend Madelaine and I have another wreath to add to our seasonal collection. All of these wreaths, Holiday Wreath of Hope, Winter Wreath of Peace, Spring Wreath of Grace, and Summer Wreath of Life, bear a spiritual significance to their intentional elements. Here is the Fall Wreath of Thankfulness:

1. Start with a grapevine wreath. All our wreaths begin with the dry twisted grapevine to exhibit who we are without the life of Christ. We chase other things to fill us, but to no avail. In the book of Ruth, Naomi and her family displayed this very thing by seeking refuge in a foreign land. After ten years of chasing, she came back to Bethlehem declaring, "I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty" (Ruth 1:21).
2. Add heads of grain around the whole wreath. It is in our emptiness that Jesus enters in. Just as Ruth and Naomi traveled back to Bethlehem, the "House of Bread", we too have the opportunity to feast on the true words of Christ, the bread of Life. Jesus proclaims, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty (John 6:35).
3. Add three large red flowers of your choosing. These flowers represent the love of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit that is lavished on us. When we believe in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we are touched with this love. His love even indwells us through His Spirit. The red flowers also signify the blood of Christ which was the price that was paid in order for us to receive this love. Scripture says, In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us... (Ephesians 1:7). We now bear His love!
4. Add sprigs of gold berries on both sides of the wreath. The gold in these berries represent the glory of Christ when he died on the cross. Again, it took His death to give us Life--this sacrificial act was the most glorious act of all time! The night Jesus died, He prayed, Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify You (John 1:1). Also, through faith in Him, we now have Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). We now bear His light!
5. Add three dried orange pods throughout wreath. These orange pods represent our choice to also "die to self and live to Christ." We are part of His plan in bringing others to a saving knowledge of Him. We are called to share His light and His love. Scripture says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit" (John 12:24).

We have much to be thankful for this season, and ALWAYS. The Lord Jesus fills our emptiness with His love! He teaches us through His word! He takes away our sin! He gives us His glory!Let's pass this truth along so others can join in this beautiful cycle of Life. Make a Fall Wreath of Thankfulness with a friend. Hang it on your door, and share its meaning to all those who enter your home. Rejoice in His abundant goodness.