If Trees Could Talk

June 8, 2003

            We have planted many trees in the forty years we have lived on our corner.  There

is something unique and special about a tree.  If trees could talk, ours would have a lot of stories to tell, especially about boys.  Treehouses, sword fights, and swings made many a happy day.  The boys loved the peach and apricot cobblers the fruit trees provided.  It reminds me that if I am to leave something good in this world, I need to produce good fruit too.  “When they are old, they will still produce fruit; they will be healthy and fresh”  (Psalm 92:14 NCV).

            I once assigned my creative writing class to write a story about the giant elm tree right behind our classroom.  One of my students gave a voice to the tree saying, “I have been shading children for the last sixty-two years.  I watch them play.  I watch them grow.  I watch them learn.  I give them rest under my leaves.”

            My student’s story inspired me to see an analogy.  Under God’s protection “ we

are “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither”  (Psalm 1:3 NIV).  He gives rest for those who abide “under the shadow of the almighty” (Psalm 91:1 NIV).

            If one of our trees could talk, it would have said “plant me in a place where I will have lots of room.”  We thought we did, but with the passing of time, the other trees grew, branched out, and began touching each other.  The strongest trees intimidated the weaker ones.  The weaker ones leaned as far away as possible from the prevailing trees, all except one.  I watched this little evergreen grow with great interest.  It refused to be intimidated.

            From my yard swing, I viewed this small, but strong evergreen every time I took refuge in my swing.  Whenever problems mounted, I found myself in the swing.  Maybe I thought I could swing the troubles away.  My children were leaving the nest.  I prayed protection for them.  My husband’s serious surgery plagued my thoughts.  I prayed healing for him.  Life brings hard adjustments at times.

            In my daily swing time, I noticed something different about my young evergreen.  It didn’t mind the forest of trees around it.  No matter how large they grew and brushed against it, my little tree determined to grow anyway.  It refused to give up.  The larger trees crowded and outgrew this tree, but it stood its ground.  It has grown with patience and persistence.

            Now it is the tallest tree in our yard.  Through the years this tree didn’t look at its surroundings.  It didn’t mind the problems.  If it could have talked, I don’t think it would have murmured and complained about the others trees crowding it out.  I like to think its

fortitude and faith not only helped it to survive, but flourish.

            I love to look at this champion tree from my vantage point while swinging.  I take inspiration from it.  It is tall and lush, growing even “taller” in spite of obstacles.  If this tree could talk, I think it would say something it must have known all along:

            “With God, all things are possible!”