Ice storm

The weekend before last was a new experience for me.

The weather warning was freezing rain and I thought I had a general idea of what to expect.

Of course, I should have known better.

The freezing rain began Thursday night.

It didn’t seem like a big deal until I walked out to the car Friday morning.

It was like someone had poured a coating of ice over the entire thing.

Hmm… freezing rain means it freezes as it’s raining!

(Don’t ask me why I hadn’t figured that out before.)

It took some effort, but we got it cleaned off and the steady rain helped since the temperature was no longer low.

We cleared off the ice enough to see, get into the car, and start the engine.

But I had no idea what the following night was going to be like.

My poor husband was up throughout, listening to the trees all around the neighborhood crack, break, or fall over.

I asked him to get some pictures the next morning since he was going out to assess the damage.

It was a sad and amazing landscape.

I can’t express to you the beauty!

The trees which could handle the extreme weight of every branch encased in ice was extraordinary.

But right along side these beautiful unique artwork were the broken limbs and fallen trunks of those which could not handle the weight.

The only other time I’ve seen so many trees uprooted and laying on their sides was many years ago when a child.

A severe wind and dust storm came through the city I lived in and trees all over were knocked down, roots still cling to bits of sod combing the air, unable to withstand the force of the wind.

It seems an age since I thought about that and here I am, living in a different state, realizing that weather can make an incredible mess.

But, the beauty was apparent as well.

Ice encased trees was brief, but the landscape will never be the same.

Our backyard will take many hours.

The positive side of things is the opportunity for new.

New growth in plants and trees will happen.

New trees will replace the old.

We are replacing the cedar with an apple tree.

New opportunities will be available once the clean up is finished.

It’s like our lives.

Things change, we experience loss, grief, trials, but there’s always something beautiful in it and God is always working through it.

Lamentations 3:25 NLT — The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.

Psalm 27:14 NKJV — Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

Lamentations 3:26 NKJV — It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for all Your wonderous ways. How great and awesome are Your works! Lord, oftentimes I get shortsighted, and can not see beyond myself. Please help me to live and love on a much broader scale. To walk with You in all things and to trust You in all ways. Lord Jesus, You know what today holds and I know You are holding me in today. Thank You. May those who are called by Your name live our lives understanding Your truths. I love You, Jesus. Amen.

Maybe it’s because…

Maybe it’s because I was born in the desert, where trees are carefully maintained.

Maybe it’s because my favorite place to play as a child was the silver maple tree in our front yard.

Maybe it’s because of the countless times I’ve read all the Narnia books where trees are able to talk and move and dance.

Maybe it’s because God’s creation thrills me.

Whatever the source I’ve always been a little bit like Anne of Green Gables, never really out grew my love of nature.

So when my asthma caused me to walk outside in search of fresh air, I headed for our woods.

(I’m still praising God we didn’t have to cut all the trees.)

And it was here, in the outdoor classroom I found rest.

My chest wasn’t tight.

My mind wasn’t racing over my “to do” list.

I was able to simply rest.

And in that rest my heart found so many things to praise God for.

Simple things, like showing me I had all the ingredients to make popcorn balls last night as I realized I had failed to get something for teacher appreciation.

The limbs I found this afternoon which my hubby promised to spray paint white.

The other details which have fallen together as the baby shower gets closer.

The fact that after only a few moments search, I found my calligraphy pens which I haven’t seen in months.

The blessing of being able to finish the diploma, (why I was looking for those pens) which will be presented tomorrow evening.

The hope of a future for our family.

The promise of joy in watching God walk each of us forward into His will.

Thankfulness.

Dear Jesus,

There’s so little I understand about how You are going to answer the questions in our lives. Yet, I have seen You working and I know You’re good. There is nothing and no one who compares to You. Please, Jesus, hold me in Your hand and continue to help me find rest and thankfulness.

Growing together

Photographs are often insufficient to give the entire view.

On a walk recently,
I came across these trees.

Each tree had obviously grown up close to the other,
their branches stretching toward the light,
their trunks almost hugging.

Then it struck me.

One tree was a  Douglas Fir and the other a Madrone.

Madrone trees are common.

They are a hard wood tree with smooth bark which curls off in red stripes leaving the lighter wood visible.

Douglas Fir are common.

The tree, named for our area, are a major part of the lumber industry of our county and state.

Being a softer wood it is used to make building materials which are then shipped all over the world.

How had these two grown together in such a way that both had what was needed to survive?

The question turned.

How do two people live close together with as many differences (or possibly more) grow together in such a way that both have what is needed to survive?

The answer was obvious.

God.

As I studied these two trees I noticed the Douglas Fir had only a few branches, thin and whispy, on the side the Madrone grew.

Madrone do not grow as tall or as quickly as fir, yet this one was tall for its diameter and had obviously grown in such a way as to reach the sun.

It has prospered in the area more light was reached.

The trunk of the Madrone had bent around the fir to be able to grow towards the light.

As a wife I have learned that my ability to love and care for my husband truly depends on my time spent in the Son.

Only in prayer and patience and growth in the Word have I learned to grow towards my husband.

Does he do the same for me?

Yes.
Absolutely.

But I can’t wait for him to move to allow more light in my life, I have to choose to do so, to stretch,  to reach for God’s Word and let it grow and strengthen me.

Just like God created these trees and the ability to adjust, so He has given me  life, completely suppling all my needs, not just physical, but spiritual, emotional, and mental.

In a marriage it takes a level of trust,
love, kindness, forgiveness, and selflessness to grow together which can only come from God.

Yes, there are people who are able to make a marriage survive who don’t know the Father.

However, I have never seen one that worked into a perfectly harmonious relationship without God’s hand.

God gives us the blueprint for marriage in how He loves us.

He is long suffering.

He is forgiving.

He is a comfort and guide.

He’s more…

So as I looked at these two trees,
growing up,
nearly wrapped around each other,
I thanked God for marriage.

I thanked Him for all I have learned through living with my husband.

I thanked Him for guiding me, stretching me, growing me, and
holding me up.

I thanked Him for being the Creator,
the water  which replenishes my soul,
and the
LIGHT
which gives me life.