I’m a tree.

Would you believe these two photos are the same tree?  Last summer, I would call my mom under that beautiful, lush tree, and we would talk about barbecues and such while I sat in the green grass at the trunk.  Now, my beautiful tree is naked and sad.  And what grass remains is a sad mucky yellow.  Every year, I have to remind myself that leaves always come back.  It is hard for me to see the potential in skinny twigs, but summer always comes, and I will forget – like I always do – that winter pales in comparison.

I have been feeling transitional lately, much like this tree.  Growth and newness are promising, but they seem a long way off.  I am sort of “stuck” between seasons – done with the old, not ready for the new… and these photos are an encouragement to me today.  Change is temporary, and the growing pains I feel will seem distant and silly when I have all of my leaves.  Pruning is difficult, but the harvest is always better because of it.  I hope to be making good fruit in the near future.

Here is a verse I keep returning to when I feel leafless: “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

17 Feb This entry was published on February 17, 2011 at 11:12 AM and is filed under growing up, seasons, the park. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.