Autumn is officially here with its cooler temperatures and leaves changing color. For many, fall is their favorite season, a sentiment I don’t share. I never liked fall because it meant winter was right on its heels, and then I would be cold for months.

In a recent conversation with my sister, I was once again complaining that fall was coming, and proceeded to tell her why I don’t like fall and hate winter. After presenting my case, she replied to me, “But you don’t live there anymore.” She said I was living in traumatic memories of the past that I could let go of because they are not my reality anymore.

So I began to explore this. I grew up in an old freezing cold farmhouse, and longed for the furnace to come on so that I could sit on the floor register and get warm. Many of the houses I’ve lived in throughout my life have been cold all winter.

Then there was the winter driving. The worst days were when I was already at work and it started storming. I was petrified to drive home and had some scary rides, slipping around on icy roads. My husband used to drive a truck, delivering feed to farms. I spent my winter days in fear, pleading and begging God all day to keep him safe.

As I thought about these and other memories, it was true – I don’t live there anymore. Our home is kept warm with a wood stove, a furnace that works well, electric heaters for back-up, and I have an array of sweaters and blankets to keep me cozy and warm.

My husband and I have been retired for a few years, so we no longer have to go out on treacherous roads. If the roads are bad, we stay home.

As I let go of these memories that have kept me bound in the fear of winter all my life, I started to think about the things I do love about the fall and winter seasons. They have a beauty all their own that I can enjoy from the comfort of my home. 

Some of our favorite family holidays are Thanksgiving and Christmas. The hectic activities of summer are drawing to a close, and after the holidays, the long days of winter can be a quiet time of rest and renewal.

As I let those memories go and repented of the years of grumbling, complaining and living in fear, I was filled with such an overwhelming sense of joy. I have determined that this year I am going to try to enjoy these seasons that I once hated.

How about you? Are you stuck in the past and live in traumatic memories that still affect your life? Has there been abuse or the loss of a loved one, an accident, fire or natural disaster that still haunts you and controls your life?

You may still be living with the effects or consequences of the trauma, but hopefully you don’t live there anymore. As we renew our minds and speak truth to where we actually are right now, God can give us the strength to let go of the past and move forward into healing. There is help available to move beyond traumatic memories, and if you ask, God will lead you to the help you need.

Hope Ministries is a Christian counseling center, and we are here to help. If you would like to speak confidentially with someone, give us a call at 845-482-5300.