TREES

In the years since I developed a love of photography, I have had a fascination with trees.  I love the different shapes, the unique branches, and all the other qualities of these towering creations.  My family is very patient when I find a tree to photograph.

I am awed by the beauty of trees in the fall season.  For example, the beauty of the Washington State trees.......

...the Montana aspens......

...and our own trees in our neighborhood.

 This is the red maple my parents gave us for one of our first anniversaries....over 30 years ago.

There are trees with snow as they are bathed in sunshine....

....trees that have no leaves but have "character".....

...trees that stand alone...

and trees with large trunks as well as trees with a purpose.

 There are even trees that "reflect".

A year or so ago, The Girl had a turn of doing her office Friday devotion.  She shared it with me.  It was about trees.  She has given me permission to share with you.   

"My mother really, really likes to take pictures.  Recently she's been really into taking pictures of trees. Trees with leaves, trees without leaves, dead trees...you name it, she finds something artistic in it.  Last summer, my family and I went fishing in Louisiana.  There was one particular tree that caught her attention as we sat on the boat.  It was a big tree, not very attractive to the untrained eye, but it was on a small piece of land that sat in the marshy waters of southern Louisiana.

It made you wonder how in the world it could stand up straight in the middle of all the muck and grass and water.  It brought to mind the old song "I Shall Not Be Moved."  I've thought of that tree often lately as the children's choir at our church sings the old hymn often...and wondered what exactly makes a tree planted by the water so special--why not planted in the forest, or on a mountain?

The Bible says in Jeremiah 17:7-8 that 'Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.  He shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.'  

I did a little research on trees, and it turns out that one of the most important parts of the tree is the roots.  No matter what a tree looks like--how big or how small it is--what kind it is--it is anchored by the part of it that we don't see.  It is important that new roots be able to grow and spread out--with good soil, good nutrients, and as few obstacles as possible.  Roots serve three main functions:  absorbing water, absorbing nutrients and minerals, and providing structural stability.

Roots feed a tree, keep it nourished so that it can grow and bear fruit, and keep it tall and strong when the winds blow and the storms come.  So how are we like a tree?  And how can we grow roots that keep us standing tall and bearing fruit to share with the world?  We need to feed our roots with God's Word and stay in constant fellowship with Him so that we can constantly be refreshed with His living water.  Maybe that's why the tree is planted by the water--as a reminder that we should walk closely with God!  With God as our source of strength, we will be able to withstand the winds and storms of life as they come.  Not only that, we are promised that when the drought comes and when we are put through the fire, we will still bear fruit.

That's a source of comfort to me in these times--a promise that, if we stay rooted in God and His Word that we will endure the drought that we are in right now, whether it be from the economy, health issues, or just being in a 'desert' period of your life.  He won't let us just wither up!"

And to The Girl's words, I say, "AMEN!"