Trees
Over the past couple of years, trees have been a powerful way that God has spoken to my heart.
Take, for example, this post that I wrote on Facebook in November 2018:
I took this photo two weeks ago while sitting on my back deck. I was out there doing some reading, enjoying my chai latte and the beautiful fall morning.
I love the richness of color found in this photo. The reds and greens. It’s sings of God’s beauty and creativity. As I looked up I felt a deep sense of gratitude.
See, the week before I took this picture, I was driving down the road and saw two amazingly gorgeous trees. I declared to my children right then and there, “Ok, kids. Our next property will also have trees that change to brilliant colors in the fall.” We all agreed how awesome that would be.
I had completely forgotten about the trees right outside my back door that change to brilliant colors. I already had what I thought I was lacking. What a humbling and comforting thought!
My God already provided for this heart desire! Isn’t he good? He is faithful!
Dreaming is a good thing. Casting vision for yourself is a good thing. We will continue to practice those skills…and they are skills that take practice. But I’m also going to continue practicing contentment and acknowledging how richly blessed my life already is. There is so much for which to be grateful!
Last May when we were in Yosemite, I was reminded of the power and awesomeness of our Creator as I was dwarfed next to these giant sequoias on a snowy day. I had such joy sharing this little corner of the park with my children, seeing the awe on their faces at the sheer magnitude of these trees.
Then there is the willow tree that we saw as we drove up the driveway of WayMaker Acres for the first time. After putting a willow tree on “the list,” it was a sweet little reminder that God alone draws the boundaries of where we live.
I don’t know that I really understood how many trees the Lord had been using in my life until a couple weeks ago when I saw these Eastern Redbud trees in bloom.
You see, shortly after we were blessed with our first horse, JJ, last spring, I was driving up to the property where we kept him and saw one of these trees on the side of the road. It occurred to me just how much I love these trees. They are so beautiful and bring me such joy. Every day we would pass one tree in particular and I would turn to The Equestrian and jokingly say, “I’m going to need you to get me one of those trees, mmmmkay? Please and thank you.”
I remember one day around my birthday, she brought me branch with some redbud blossoms on it for me to enjoy inside. It was a precious gift from my precious girl. What’s even more precious to me, though, is the thought that the Lord saw fit to have two of these trees on our driveway, ready to bloom in the springtime. When I was joking with my daughter a year ago, I had NO idea that I would soon be living on a property with these beauties, but God knew.
During these uncertain times, I can sometimes find myself feeling overwhelmed, unsure of what’s next. We are bombarded daily with new information, rules, declarations, projections, and more. We don’t know when we will be able to resume a “normal” life or if that’s even a possibility. What these trees tell me, though, is that God is faithful. He’s sees us. He hears us. He is with us. We may not always feel it, but it’s true.
The maple trees I could see from my old deck.
The giant sequoias towering on a Sierra Nevada mountainside.
The willow waiting for me at the end of my driveway.
And yes, the Eastern Redbud that is blooming so delicately in this season.
They all remind me of God’s truth, beauty, and goodness. They are a reminder of God’s love for me and the attention he gives the details of my life. It is humbling and encouraging all at the same time and certainly increases my affection for the God who is Sovereign over all.
Is there something that God uses to speak to your heart like he’s used these trees to speak to mine? I’d love to hear about it.
~Louise
