I thought lightning had struck our house. A few weeks after my daughter started dating a delightful young man named Danny, the thunder outside was followed by a cry coming from our front room. “Mom, that branch almost hit Danny’s car!” she said, pointing out the window.
Our driveway is lined by a row of trees that flower spectacularly in spring. This year, a series of autumn storms caused several large sections of branches to fall to the ground. Now, it was time to call an arborist.
“These are Bradford Pear trees,” the tree doctor explained. The storms had passed, and the foliage we examined shone softly in the September sun. “They grow top-heavy. I recommend trimming them back substantially.”
I worried that the trees had some disease, causing them to rot on the inside. I never realized a tree could also be in danger of being too top-heavy. Trees are complex beings.
Trees are also a common symbol in the Bible, from the Garden of Eden in Genesis to the Tree of Life in Revelation. Scripture is replete with images of deep roots and protective branches. In Psalm 1:3, the psalmist describes a person who finds joy in following God’s direction and then compares them to a tree thriving in a nourishing environment. This person is resilient and productive because they are devoted to God’s word.
I have learned it is too easy for the branches of my own life to become weighed down with unnecessary distractions. Yet I have the perfect reminder to stay close to God’s Word: the trees that grow everywhere, including my front yard.
Ask God to help you be as spiritually sturdy as a sturdy tree.
Rebecca Gabrione is an emerging writer committed to sharing her faith through writing. She also enjoys reading, traveling, and exploring bookstores.