When I was in elementary school, they gave us trees for Arbor Day. I mean, like, sticks that could become trees. I’d guess that over the years, not many of these have survived. One of mine has though and is still in my mom’s front yard! It has reached a height that when dad was still alive and putting outside Christmas lights up, he couldn’t reach the top.
Yesterday morning around 5:30am, a car speeding the wrong way on the one-way street crashed into said tree. Left ruts in the yard and took a chunk of the tree. The chunk is mostly bark, but still. The driver and a passenger were being followed, so after the crash, they jumped into the other car and sped away (as captured by the Ring doorbell and security cameras of my mom’s and her neighbors).
A seemingly insignificant plant from 30+ years ago possibly saved my mom’s house and/or car yesterday. My aunt, mom’s youngest sister, lives next door and the car could have hit her as well. There are a lot of lessons that can be gleaned from that, right? I’m grateful no one I love was hurt, the house is OK, the car is fine, and the tree will probably be there for years to come. That tree was in a pot at our house we rented when I got it, then we brought it when we moved and planted it in the front yard. Over the years it would be wrapped in Christmas lights with more and more strands each time. It might just be a tree, but it holds memories.
What other seemingly insignificant thing is there in my life today that will have that kind of effect in 30 years? Probably not a plant, but a thought pattern or a prayer? A dream or desire? Or a lesson or a skill or a habit? Will it protect me or someone I love? Will it be strong and it’s roots deep? That tree will have a scar, a reminder to not just live in the moment but to cherish the past and hope for the future.
Bragging on the Lord 