To those who don’t know the history of this tree—it may seem ordinary, perhaps even…ugly? Don’t be fooled. This is a hero tree.
Two years ago, this tree blew over during a strong gale. There it lay on the ground, roots sticking up in the air. There it stayed for months until someone came along and whacked off all the branches, leaving the tree and its frame flat on the ground with the roots still exposed. There it lay for another year.
For some strange reason—since it wasn’t replanted—someone lifted the tree back up and stuffed the exposed roots back into the shallow hole which had once cradled them. The tree is not straight. Its roots are still exposed. Whoever lifted the tree back up and stuck it back into the hole didn’t bother to cover the roots with dirt.
This hero tree is starting to grow again. After two years of abuse, abandonment, and struggle, the tree is putting on new growth.
We humans get hit with gales. We go down. Battering and circumstances beyond our control keep us flat. As we heal, we are faced with two choices: get up and draw from the hard place we’ve been to put on new growth, or remain inert and withdraw from life.
The more years I live the more I realize that no one is gifted with an easy problem-free life. No matter how far inland or how deeply planted along the shore one is, nothing can guarantee that we won’t be battered by the hard winds of adversity. When we are, recovery and success depends on the choice we make; withdraw or start growing again.
Fortunately, we have Someone who will come along beside us and give us the strength we need for whatever storms we face.
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
“So we may boldly say, ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6.
“Behold, God is my helper.” Psalm 54:4.
The best news: when life knocks us down and God picks us up again—He covers our roots, too.
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Stephanie Parker McKean 
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Love this, Steph. Now I pray that someone will be kind enough to come along with a bag of dirt to cover those roots and give that valiant tree some more encouragement. Beautiful illustration of life and it’s problems. We can give up, or we can fight to go on.
Help from others always makes life a little easier. If I were there, I’d get that bag of dirt to the hero tree as fast as I could. And if it needed more, once it was settled, I’d bring it. Live on, little tree. Never mind those who walk by and ignore your need. Thank God for the one who gave you a hand up. 🙂
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Amen. I have a bag of dirt on the deck. I’ll take it tomorrow. God bless.
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What a lovely post, Steph. It really resonated with me as representative of our lives. As you say, we always have a choice. I love it that the tree is starting to grow again and I know you will give it all the encouragement it needs. Bless you, Steph!
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Thanks, Val. You are a lovely person – an extraordinary human being.
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