Tonight I sat and watched an old tree being felled. It was dead, I was told, and could have damaged something or hurt someone, so I understand. In my mind, I get it. But my heart was breaking.
Death and endings make me sad.
And I was thinking about this–
If we don’t plant more trees than we cut down,
if we don’t praise more than we criticize, listen more than we speak,
if we don’t hug more than we point fingers, create more than we destroy,
if we don’t stand up for what we believe to be right more than we stand back and watch things happen,
we have done our children, our world, and indeed ourselves a great disservice.
I have a sweet friend who rescues daffodils from construction sites.
Think about that for a second.
Some might say, Oh they’re just flowers. You can always plant some more.
But not her.
And I think that’s such a precious story–her love for things that grow is akin to sacred to me. She is a good steward of the land. And people. She sure knows how to love on folks too. It’s her gift.
She’s a gift.
I guess that’s what I was thinking about while I sat in my roost watching the tree that wasn’t mine being prepped to fall to the ground with a mighty crack and thud. The gift of life. The tenderness of it. How frail it is.
Tonight I’m thankful for those, like my friend, who care so much for all life that they go the extra mile to protect it. For those who plant more than they destroy, for those who share kind words easily, I give thanks. And I’m also thankful for some precious little baby trees my Uncle gave me. When he gave them to me, I had no idea how much they would soothe my soul, knowing they would be in the ground as the mighty tree fell not far from their new home. New life is always filled with hope, isn’t it?
And tonight I’m most thankful for that.
May we all find a way to leave the world a better place when we lay down our heads to sleep than it was when we awoke that morning.
Love and happy planting season to all.
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You can read more about my sweet friend and her adventures in loving living things here. Y’all go say hello. She’s good people.
I Might Need A Nap 