I am by no means a poet. I love to read it, but have never written (not even in a college level creative writing course) a poem that I felt had very much merit. One of my favorites is an old stand-by from Joyce Kilmer: Trees. I hadn't realized how much I had been missing trees around until I saw this one.
For all the ugliness and dirtiness of this house when we first saw it, that giant maple just drew me in. I had an immediate urge to climb it and embrace it's cool shelter. Maybe, I thought, we could just live out here in the tree like The Swiss Family Robinson, rather than the less-than-inspiring house? I know I am not the only one to be drawn in by the loveliness of something, so much that it almost begs for a presence in your life. (My sister-in-law rented her apartment here (before she was my sister-in-law) based almost solely on the beauty of an antique doorknob.) I am so grateful God created us with an appreciation for beauty of all kinds. It seems a tree manages to appeal to all of our senses. Hmmmm...... maybe not taste, unless it's a fruit tree!
And, the kids? Well, they can't get enough of the tree either. Whether they choose just to play under it's cool canopy or include it in their schemes.
Really, I can't blame them. These old branches, stretch out forever and shelter us like the arms of God.
As financially nerve-wracking as it has been for us to be carrying the weight of two homes and the bigger of the two mortgages, I firmly believe this home is a blessing for our family and our tree reminds me to keep looking up.
2 comments:
I'm so happy for you with your tree. I know you'll enjoy it in so many ways - just a tree - isn't it funny?
So beautiful! Your lovely post reminds me of Shel Silverstein's book, The Giving Tree. If you don't know it or own it you should, you'd love it. It's a classic so you probably do know it.
Good luck with the houses - they're such worrisome things!
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