"One day at a time--this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering."

Ida Scott Taylor


Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Walking on through




Just came home
from taking a much needed
walk out in nature!  
(the old covered bridge is on my walking path by the river) 
The trees provided wonderful shade
as I walked the pretty and peaceful  path through them.



“Trees are the earth's endless effort
 to speak to the listening heaven.” 
Rabindranath Tagore, Fireflies, 1928

Have you ever thought about how
much we are like trees?  
Like the way we have to go through seasons
in our lives along with
 having to give up or let go of our leaves,
(things that we are comfortable with or love)
so to make room for new growth when
the new season arrives.


Sometimes I think it takes a 
mighty strong wind 
to loosen 
those leaves before they will drop.
Just like when God has too bring along
something strong to get us to loosen our grip.

I could go on and on about the many 
times it took a very strong wind 
to loosen my leaves.
I guess I hold on a little too tight sometimes!

"All good things on earth
are to be enjoyed, but holding
them loosely works best-
for where your treasure is,
there your heart
will be also."
Kay Rader

One of those windy seasons
( yes, I have many more than one)
was the beginning of the empty nest time for me.
That was about 7 years ago,
so I'm through it now,
but at the time, I felt like my trunk had just been hit
with a tornado!!! 
God had so much more planned for me
but I had to let go
to find what new step, what new song,
he had planned ahead.
And an even greater thing to look forward too is
the BEST is yet to come!

How about you? 
Do you hold on extra tightly to anything?



"Blessed are those who trust in the Lord.
They are like trees planted along a 
riverbank, with roots that reach deep into
the water.  Such trees are not bothered by the 
heat or worried by long months of drought.
There leaves stay green, and they go right on 
producing delicious fruit."

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NLT)



I have had a special
love for trees ever since I was a  little girl.
I was in 6th grade
when my siblings and I went to live
with our grandparents.
They had just built a beautiful brick ranch home that
sat in the middle of many old and very tall oak trees.
I remember being so thankful every morning,
for a secure and happy place to live,
as I looked out
of my bedroom window and saw 
the
beautiful tall trees blowing in the wind. 
They were always there, through the storms, in
all of the changes through the seasons.
They remained secure and growing 
as they reached up to the top of the
sky to see the sun (SON).
Just as I learned to do at that age,
as I followed their example
and looked to the SON, my Savior, my creator
and loving Heavenly Father.

To this day, walking through the trees
makes me feel as though
I could touch God as if he were right there painting
a masterpiece and a word picture just for me.



If you are right in the middle of having to
loosen your  grip and let go
of something, or fearing the possibility 
of having to let go in the future, 
remember you are not alone. 
God has a new song, a new season planned
just for you... It may be scary now, not knowing 
what is ahead, but you can trust that 
His plans for you are good. 
 We will never know His Best if we don't let go.

You are always invited to come over and 
sit under the shade tree with me. 
I'll even make some sweet tea we can share.
I'm a much braver girl when I have 
a friend beside me.

Hugs,


Some wonderful words that encouraged me from
Brenda Waggoner 
author of  the book, "Fairy Tale Faith"


"Perhaps it takes some years of walking with 
God to learn to relax in his presence,
to realize that he's there even when
he seems absent and that he's not put off 
when we get distracted from him or go
to sleep in his lap. 
He isn't even shocked at our worst
foibles and follies, though we often are."


9 comments:

Jennifer Richardson said...

So glad and grateful to be
sharing this journey with you!
I've been coached by the trees
this week as well, leaning in
to the letting go.
I'm in that tornado right now
and amazed at the encouragement
that whooshed my way
in your post this morning.
Much, much MUCH love and thanks,
dear LeeAnn:)
-Jennifer

Anonymous said...

I love this post and I love tree metaphors. Some trees have deeper root systems than others which allow them to handle the storms better; others are able to bend more in the wind. I want to be a tree that digs its roots deeply in the ground so that when the storms of life happen I can withstand the wind better even as I lose the covering on my branches.

Jlynn

Tricia said...

Oh my, I love that old bridge. What a pretty place to reflect on life :)

Bren Graham Thebeau said...

Beautiful area for a walk. Great post, seems there's always a lot of shaking loose of leaves going on :-)

Lesley Edmonds said...

Oh my goodness I still have a couple of leaves I'm not letting go...they're shrivelled and brown now and I know knew growth will come if only I could let them fall away.....(sigh) :)

Unknown said...

What a lovely share, Lee Ann. You truly have a special gift in getting messages across. I so love briges.

Would you be so kind to leave a comment on my BLOG ONLY, for the Miracle Makeover fund drive. Charlie, 8 yr. old, & his story are fabulous. Every comment brings us a $1 for the next person that will be sponsored.

Have a beautiful weekend.
Hugs,
TTFN ~
Marydon

Nancy said...

I feel lighter and refreshed after visiting with you.....Your walk was wonderful and I love the bridge and the words about trees....I had never thought of holding on to things like leaves on a tree....It's a perfect analogy..but then you are very smart in sharing your analogies with us and they alway bless me....

I sure wish I could come over and sit on the porch with you but then I might not want to leave visiting with such a sweet friend as you....

I hope your coming week is blessed and full of God adventures.....

Love you,
Nancy

deanna - thoughts, prayers, and actions said...

I loved your post! I just returned from our annual week in Beaver Creek! The trees (and wild flowers) were so wonderful, my shoulders relaxed the closer I got to our place of relaxation. I hiked a very difficult hike with my youngest daughter (12 miles round trip) there is something so grounding (literally) about being amongst/one with nature. God's gift to us, to see His ever presence in our lives. Thank you for sharing with us, your cyber friends! Blessings upon you!!!

Joy Hall said...

Such a beautiful and inspiring post. Thank you for sharing this message!