The
winter had passed slowly in our new home but finally
spring had arrived. Our landscaping consisted of red
clay, rocks, clumps of weeds, and a few onion sprouts.
We had been blessed with a beautiful new home in the
foothills of Tennessee but landscaping had not been
part of the package.
We
labored day after day picking rocks out of our
potential area for grass. After several weeks of
working and planning we seeded our property and
removed and replanted the few shrubs and bushes that
had come with the house. It takes some thought and a
great deal of effort to make something aesthetically
pleasant out of the disaster we started with but over
time we saw the fruits of our labor.
One
afternoon two men came by selling trees. The Bradford
Pear tree is a beautiful tree. It blooms several times
a year and each time the blossoms are a different
color. It is very popular so we decided to invest in
two in an effort to add some beauty to our yard. These
trees were not little twigs but partially grown trees
that were probably at least 7 or 8 feet high if not
more. We buy big trees here in Tennessee…I guess we
are too impatient to wait for the little seedlings to
grow. Finally our house was turning into a home and we
actually had some grass and trees.
One
afternoon we had a terrible storm with strong winds.
Imagine my surprise when my son came in and told me
that one of the trees had been blown right out of the
ground. At first I thought he was joking with me but
by the look on his face I could tell he wanted me to
go investigate.
Sure
enough the wind had somehow torn one of the trees
right out of the ground. There was no way to replant
it because the roots did not all come up with it.
There was nothing to do with it but use it for
firewood.
It
was not long until winter was upon us again, and then
spring arrived once more. I usually water flowers in
the morning before the sun is to hot so while out
watering the flowers I noticed something where the
tree had been. It was one very frail thin branch
sticking out of the ground. It was tiny but so green
and healthy. It even had a couple of miniature leaves
on it. My husband had not gotten around to digging out
the roots the previous summer and I was glad because
there was still life there and that thin branch was
all I needed to see to know that something was going
to grow there if we would just be patient.
Today
as we were leaving the house my husband commented on
that tree. It is unique because the trunk is short but
it is full of leaves and full of life and as beautiful
as every other tree in the neighborhood.
My
point…read the Scripture text again. Things in this
life are not always what they seem. You can pick
through and find the biggest fruit in the grocery
store and it can be rotten within. Or you can choose
the smallest piece and it can be so sweet. Most
of the time…things are not what they seem.
That
little sprout in my yard drove some of the people in
our subdivision crazy. They could not believe we would
not take it out and that we nurtured it the same
as all the other plants and flowers. You should hear
their comments now…it was not as bad as it seemed.
The
life of that other person that you secretly covet is
not what it seems. That car that you keep eyeing is
not what it seems. The promotion that you were passed
over on was not what it seemed. That friend who
betrayed you was not who they seemed.
It
is important that we are led by the Spirit of God in
everything. I believe that far to many times we try to
make all the decisions ourselves except for life and
death matters. God wants us to come to Him and listen
while He speaks truth to us. When He does that we will
see past the present and into the future. We will see
through the lies and smokescreens and find truth.
Do
not give up because what ever you are involved in is
not going the way you thought it would. God makes last
minute changes so you have no idea what the end result
is going to be. If you trust Him and know He only
plans the best for you then you will trust Him no
matter what your eyes may see. I believe that if we
truly surrender to God He will allow us to see things
through His eyes and when we do we will see His
perfect workings in our lives, and the lives of those
we love.
Take
another look today…things are not always what they
seem!
Prayer:
Father
God we come to You in the Name of Jesus and thank You
once for making Your Word and Your ways so simple. You
speak to us when we rise up and when we lie down. You
walk with us and talk with us because we are Your
children. Sometimes we fail to recognize Your voice
and Presence. For that we ask Your forgiveness.
Today
we ask that You would illuminate truth to us. So many
things are not what they seem to us. We need Your
wisdom and knowledge working in our lives and know
that Your Word has promised to give it to us when we
ask. We thank You for it in advance.
Help
us not to look to other people's lives and in doing so
look past the blessings in our own life. You are so
generous with us. You are Our Provider and we want to
thank You for all You do for us and all you are doing
in us.
