Gazing at the Old Oak Tree

I love the beautiful old oak tree that graces my backyard.  I truly love to sit in its shadows and gaze up at its branches.  The weather has been so nice, allowing me to enjoy some quiet time in my sunroom which, in turn, gave me some much needed ‘old oak tree gazing’ time, as well.  Something about the grandeur of this, God’s creation, with its branches swaying gently in the breeze, brings me peace and clarity of thought…a nice reprieve from the noise and hustle and bustle of everyday life.

After relaxing in my sunroom for a while, I decided that I needed to trim up some unruly new growth on my holly bushes.  As I began to pick up trimmings that had fallen to the ground I realized that my yard was covered in small twigs and branches from my beautiful old oak.  Some of those very branches that I had gazed at and admired in weeks past, had been pruned, so to speak, by some very heavy winds we had experienced recently. Enjoying the fact that I felt like doing some light yard work once again, I decided to pick up a few twigs and branches. Before I knew it, I had picked up several hands full.  It seems that nature had done some serious cleaning, taking away the old, dry branches, leaving room for new growth to follow in this new, fresh season.

As I thought about what I had experienced, I asked God to speak to me and reveal a lesson, or maybe a reminder, that I might need in my own life and one that I might share.  In doing so, God showed me that I have some things in my life that once served a purpose, but may now need to be pruned, allowing for new growth in a fresh, new season in my life. Some, I may not want to get rid of, I mean they are a part of me, right? Just like the dry and brittle branches that the oak tree held onto until God’s pruning.  Now, as I gaze up at the gracefully swaying branches above, I see nothing but a thriving, healthy and ‘happy’ tree, fresh and renewed.

I am so thankful for a God who loves us so much that He never stops working in our lives, pruning and preparing us for the blessings that are just ahead.  I truly believe that fresh, new seasons are ahead for all of us, if we will simply put our trust in the Lord, letting Him lead and maybe do some pruning along the way.

Jeremiah 29:11 & Proverbs 3:5-6