This tree stands in the yard I grew up in...It's seen a lot....it could say a whole lot...
I'm "home" today and as I stepped outside this morning looked to see where the sun would be rising, I saw the rising of this tree and I thought, boy, if this tree could talk....I think this is what it would say...
"Well, good morning, Lenee, it's been a couple months hasn't it? Good to have you back home again. Hang on a few, the sun is right there it will be peaking pretty soon, see my leaves up top have already seen it...I've got proof already that it's on its way up. And yep, you're so right, boy have I seen alot. a whole lot! Remember when Bryan hooked your sled up to the back of the motorcycle and slung dirt all over you right in front of me? Remember when I was third base? I've seen many a hands quickly tap me on their way to home plate. I used to love to watch y'all play ball! I especially loved it when one of the boys would get a really good crack of the bat and off the ball would go flying right through the window of old man Hoke's house that use to be right there. I wasn't so big back then, but look at me now. I just kept growing, fighting off disease, storms and whatever comes my way...see, a few around me have been taken down... but not me...I'm still here. I'm still standing. Remember all those laps you took around me on that Dingo Dunebuggy? Those days were pretty scary for me...I just knew in one wrong turn I'd take a hit, but I didn't you kept in on the path, surprisingly so...Oh Chrio wasn't so lucky that day he ran it into one of my buddies in the lower lot though, right? I slightly remember you being pretty upset with him that day...He's in heaven now having the ride of his life...Then came the dirt bike! Oh my goodness, your guardian angels have really been busy all these years! And who would've thought as much of a tomboy as you were you would've actually grown up and got married and had a couple beautiful girls as you did. I remember those hard days too when you came home that first Easter without the hubby... things had gotten messed up a bit and you were here with just the girls. Easter. It was Easter. Your favorite time of the yeard no doubt, but this one was a bit difficult....We had a good Easter even though you were sick with a stomach bug of some sort...I remember Meemaw and Lori coming back from Elberton with some surprises for the girls' Easter baskets. You were pretty taken by their goodness. What would you do without family, girl?! Thank God for the support of a good family! Abby actually potty trained herself that weekend too, remember? She is so independent, a lot like somebody else I've watched over these many years. She had a great example in her big sissy no doubt and I'm sure God knew you didn't need that added potty training stress along with everything else. He certainly knows what we can and can't handle doesn't he. He's been so faithful, hasn't he. He's been so good to you and those girls. He's been good around this homestead too. That day when your daddy started driving those two gigantic bolts in my trunk, I'm thinking, Oh my gosh! What in the world is he doing to me? Doesn't he know I'm one of the few originals! I've been here too long to suffer like this? But now I see, now I understand. It was so worth the pain. The wounds have healed now and I've got a pretty cool zipline attached and oh the laughs and squeals that thing has brought! I've so enjoyed every moment eventhough the pain was great in the making of it. I have to admit I've laughed pretty hard at those who have taken a beating on the tree below! Thank goodness your daddy is a pretty smart man and has covered it with some sort of cushion now. And oh, I just love it when your mama plans these so called "get togethers". I heard her saying the other day, that the Rice's are coming over when you come back through next weekend. I just love it when there are little ones running all around me swinging on these swings that I'm so faithfully holding up with my branches and ziplining as fast as they can. When the Maxwell's were here Easter, it was a great time too. I absolutely love, love, love to watch yall do the "money hunt"...one day I just know I'm gonna see a pure knock down, drag out fight over a single dollar bill!!! Hahaha... That'll be good for sure! Oh, Lenee, life just keeps going on doesn't it? People come and go. People laugh and cry. People live and die. But, one things for sure, that sun always tops those trees over there. The God who set this amazing world in motion is so, so faithful! Even when we doubt wether it will ever rise again, it does. Even when the storms, the bad Northeast Ga storms come, my branches might sway and I may even loose a few along the way, but I'm still standing. I'm still enjoying these beautiful sunrises in this absolutely gorgeous place I was planted in so many years ago, even before you totally shocked your mama and daddy by your appearance. Your mama has done so well with making everything around me a sanctuary. I think it's her sanctuary to. Wow, if you only knew the prayers I've seen go up as she has planted, watered, weeded and whatever else it is she's always doing. She's a true work of art herself. And that daddy of yours...bless his heart. He always just keeps bringing the pinestraw, he keeps cutting this grass, he keeps fixing all the stuff around here and helping with all her little projects she comes up with. I just know every squirrel in Bowman knows about him too...I hear them talking when he's away...'whatever you do, you better not show your little tail around here when that white van is in the driveway...that man's got a 22gauge shotgun that can take you down to the ground!' It's been such an amazing time I've had here in this yard. I've seen many, many things. I've seen many, many fun times. I've seen many, many hard times too. What I'm telling you is true, Lenee, life goes on and that sun has been faithful to rise every morning I've been here. Of course, there have been days when the clouds covered my view, but the sun was always there just on the other side of them. I totally have a hallelujah dance with my brances when the silver lining shows up! I love it when the beams of the sunlight pierce through the dark clouds. The light always eventually wins! The night always gives way to the day! I just keep growing, I just keep my eyes open, I just keep hoping and believing it will shine, it will shine bright even when the sky above me is covered with dark clouds. But today, look around there are no dark clouds, not even a cloud in the sky. And enjoy this day. Enjoy the goodness of God all around you. Bask in the presence of the sun and enjoy the faithfullness of the One who planted you. Who set you in the place he choose specifically for you to grow, to survive. The soil is perfectly fertilized and contains all you need to thrive. Just keep growing, just endure the pruning, just keep looking forward to every new day you see that sun rise. And give Him all the glory, give him the praise for the proof of his goodness, majesty and mighty hand at work all around you. He is good, Lenee, He is so good. Enjoy the mercies that are new every day and his grace that is so sufficient. His love for you is higher than anything I have yet to see even from my perspective. Just keep growing, keep relying on him for your strength, for your light, for your nutrients and for your much needed refreshing water. He is good. He is faithful. He can be trusted. He really can."
"...For the LORD has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory." Isaiah 61:3
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