When I was a young pre-teen, my family would go hiking. We would just pull the car over during a long trip and go hike up the first mountain we came across. I don't even remember if there were trails, we would make our own anyway. My favorite hike ever was when we went hiking on Bell rock in Sedona, AZ. The red rock was beautiful as it reached high above the green trees around it. My brother and I had strong legs back then, we would race up as fast as we could, my dad being close behind. There were a hundred ways to climb towards the beginning but as the terrain got more difficult I would end up following my brother's path. As we reached the edge of our abilities, we reached the edge of the trail. I remember panting as we walked out on the edge of a huge red boulder. Looking back down towards my mom and sisters making their way up, I saw just how high we had come. I remember sitting down for a rest and looking out along the mountain. I distinctly remember a lone tree sitting on a huge boulder. It was the most beautiful tree I had ever seen, with its outstretched branches and green leaves against the smooth sandy red rock. It had grown through the harshest of environment: wind, rain, hardly any soil. There it stood more beautiful then any other. This tree was an example to me, then and now. Sometimes I wonder why my husband has to be around the harsh and crude language, why the battle of providing for his family rages on day after day. I wonder when he will get a break to notice how far he has really come, how much he has really grown. When will he see how strong he is or how hard he has worked to keep us rooted? I find that the times when I am being that tree myself showing that I can be strong, he gets that sparkle back, he finds that hope to hold on. But when I show him the wind and rain and the frustrations of the day, he sees the frustrations in his own life. I can help him by reflecting the joys of strength in my daily life, so he can see who he is and what he provides for us. Challenge: This week be the tree for your husband. Show him the strength you have by sharing what you love about your life. Notice what he sees in himself. Photo by L-T-L Dick Jensen
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Lone Tree
When I was a young pre-teen, my family would go hiking. We would just pull the car over during a long trip and go hike up the first mountain we came across. I don't even remember if there were trails, we would make our own anyway. My favorite hike ever was when we went hiking on Bell rock in Sedona, AZ. The red rock was beautiful as it reached high above the green trees around it. My brother and I had strong legs back then, we would race up as fast as we could, my dad being close behind. There were a hundred ways to climb towards the beginning but as the terrain got more difficult I would end up following my brother's path. As we reached the edge of our abilities, we reached the edge of the trail. I remember panting as we walked out on the edge of a huge red boulder. Looking back down towards my mom and sisters making their way up, I saw just how high we had come. I remember sitting down for a rest and looking out along the mountain. I distinctly remember a lone tree sitting on a huge boulder. It was the most beautiful tree I had ever seen, with its outstretched branches and green leaves against the smooth sandy red rock. It had grown through the harshest of environment: wind, rain, hardly any soil. There it stood more beautiful then any other. This tree was an example to me, then and now. Sometimes I wonder why my husband has to be around the harsh and crude language, why the battle of providing for his family rages on day after day. I wonder when he will get a break to notice how far he has really come, how much he has really grown. When will he see how strong he is or how hard he has worked to keep us rooted? I find that the times when I am being that tree myself showing that I can be strong, he gets that sparkle back, he finds that hope to hold on. But when I show him the wind and rain and the frustrations of the day, he sees the frustrations in his own life. I can help him by reflecting the joys of strength in my daily life, so he can see who he is and what he provides for us. Challenge: This week be the tree for your husband. Show him the strength you have by sharing what you love about your life. Notice what he sees in himself. Photo by L-T-L Dick Jensen
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Beautiful, Harm. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteVery very true to our family as well. I am thinking you are reading my mind...not as well written in my brain...but same emotions
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