Lessons from Michael

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.