LESSONS FROM
THE TREES
One
morning as I finished my devotions I looked out the window at my yard
and
the fields across the road. It seemed that the Lord gave some thoughts
about
people from the trees I saw.
I
understand that in the Bible trees are often used
as
a representation of people.
Here
is what came to my mind as I looked at what was left after the hurricane
had
destroyed so many of trees in my yard and the area around me.
My
pecan trees lost all their pecans/fruit,
but
were green with new leaves and growth.
My
roses that were stripped of their leaves
were
putting on new growth and blooming.
The
beautiful ornamental pear trees that lined my neighbor’s land
were
gone with only the stumps left.
My
largest, strong appearing oak was torn up by the roots.
In
one place one tree was standing while the one right
next
to it had broken off and was gone.
The
pencil tree (Italian cypress), that everyone admired
and
had weathered many storms, was broken off at the base and gone.
Many
bushes, broken off, but are coming back.
My
bridal wreath bush was unchanged.
There
were trees that had lost all their leaves,
had
many broken limbs and were scarred for life.
They
looked worthless,
but
they were still standing tall.
Some
went down with the first wind.
Some
are broken and bent,
but
stood strong through the battering winds.
There
are some that the tops were blown off,
but
are still strong and looking good.
Some
fruit trees lost their fruit
and
the leaves are curled up,
but
they are coming back.
One
fruit tree was uprooted.
Some
fruit trees kept their fruit
and
it is still available to eat even now.
Some
trees weathered the storm and are still standing,
but
will never be worth much again.
Some
look like they still may not make it
even
though they didn’t go down.
There
were trees in a group that braced against each other
and
stood even though some branches are gone.
The
big old oak survived and the storm removed the mistletoe
that
was going to kill it
and
it is standing strong.
There
were young and old trees that stood strong
and
young and old trees that fell.
There
were trees that destroyed other things
during
or because of the storm.
Some
stood because of their root system.
Some
came up by the roots because the roots were shallow.
Some
roots were in solid ground and some in soft.
As
I sat and looked at the trees,
I
thought how very much we are like those trees.
When
storms come are we like the strong ones with our roots
firmly
rooted in the Word of God?
Are
we just trees that look great and admired by people
or
are we serving a purpose?
How
do the storms of life affect us?
Do
we stand strong or do we, when battered and bent,
still
come back to be a strong witness?
The
storm removed the mistletoe that was going to kill the oak.
Do
we let God, through the storms of life, remove
what
may be a hindrance to our Christian life?
Do
we let them make us better?
Do
we stand together through the storms?
Do
we keep grounded in God’s Word?
Do
we continue to bear fruit even though
it
seems that everything in the past is gone?
What
is our attitude through the storms of life?
Anger,
resentment, discouragement, confidence, confusion, courage?
It
is up to us to choose.
It
is up to us to fight back when Satan or people wound us.
It
is our choice.
Storms
will make us stronger or they will destroy us.
One
thing for sure they will show others what we are made of.
Blessed
is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor
standeth in the way of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But
his delight is in the law of the LORD;
and
in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And
he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
that
bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
his
leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Psalm
1:1-3
Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to share this with my followers.
Thank you for sticking with me and please leave a comment.
