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In loving memory of our tree, which had to be removed today.
We walked this land before the tree came.
The tree came as a young sapling and rooted in with the rest of us.
We dreamed of more houses, people and pets.
And in due time, they all came. Lots of them. They, like us and the tree, all had their seasons.
We survived the seasons of life together. We had times so cold we thought we would never thaw. We ached for spring and waited together.
We blossomed together in good times, anticipating days of soaking up summer sun, before going into the next season.
The tree saw it all. While it changed in season, it was a constant presence, rooted in this land that we call home.
The tree grew. With each stretch toward the sun, not only could it see the heavens more clearly, it also could see more of its little village.
Children climbed in its branches.
Children bounced their balls against its trunk.
Dogs regularly watered it from their own bodily fountains.
Adults chatted under its shade.
The tree saw it all. It saw the seasons take people away. Children grew up and left. Some adults grew beyond their earthly roots and moved to Heaven.
Still the tree stayed, rooted in its spot, determined to give all it had. But truth be known, it was tired.
There came a spring when it could not carry the sap up to its outer branches anymore.
It blossomed closer to the bottom, using all it had to give and to live. It never gave up.
And it never gave up reaching for the light. When it could no longer reach toward the sky, it bent and reached for its neighboring street light.
The street light gave the tree all the light it had. The tree was comforted. But it knew this was not the true light.
Something inside the tree said a change was coming. It waited. The only thing it knew for certain was it wanted to keep giving.
And then the day came. The Master Gardener gave it a way to give light to the family who had loved it for so long.
Like its Master, the tree gave its all and let Heaven’s Light shine into the house.
While it will take some time to adjust to not seeing that tree in the same way I have for 31 years, I sense it is the same as its Creator.
It is still here, just in a different form. It seems to be saying, “Enjoy The Light. It was my Gift to you. Keep sharing your Light!”
You are the light of the world … Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven!
Matthew 5:14 and 16
