I went for a walk in the woods today. The sun was bright and shining through the trees, and as I walked I couldn't help but admire the mighty oak trees towering above me. The oak trees brought to mind a greeting card I had recently read titled:
"The Oak Tree" A Message of Encouragement.
A mighty wind blew night and day.
It stole the oak tree's leaves away,
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark
Until the oak was tired and stark.
But still the oak tree held its ground
While other trees fell all around.
The weary wind gave up and spoke,
"How can you still be standing, Oak?"
The oak tree said, "I know that you
Can break each branch of mine in two,
Carry every leaf away,
Shake my limbs, and make me sway.
But I have roots stretched in the earth,
Growing stronger since my birth.
You'll never touch them, for you see,
They are the deepest part of me.
Until today, I wasn't sure
Of just how much I could endure.
But now I've found, with thanks to you,
I'm stronger than I ever knew."
As I walked I continued to ponder the resiliency of the oaks as they swayed and bent in the wind, moving back and forth, back and forth. Always bending never breaking, it was so soothing. I began to think of my past and how many things or times I have bent but not broken. How many times I was close to breaking, but standing tall like these oaks, being so majestic yet defiant, saying "Bring it on!" How many times in my life, I just wanted to give in, but somehow was able to reach down to my roots and find strength. Strength to face another day. Strength to never give up. Most people would call that fortitude or perseverance. Me I call it Faith. Faith that God would bring me through anything. He has never let me down, when I put my trust in Him, but sometimes I don't like the answers He gives me or I can't see the answers. Right now I struggle with a broken heart, but as my friend Anne told me, "this too shall pass." I have faith that she is right and I will get through this, as I have with my struggles in the past, but the pain is still raw and I must draw from my roots to stand strong.
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