A Lighted Palm Tree~

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

John 15:1-2

?So today my brother Tom calls and begins to tell me how his “Most beautiful” palm tree did not make it through the Winter.  He was stunned the other two most “Ugliest ones” of course survived the torrents of coldness brought about by the out of character extremes of living in the South during a not so normal, particularly cold Winter.  As he was talking, I was absorbing all that he was saying and a picture began to unfold in my mind of how we too, are like the delicate “Palms” or rather…  A tree…

There has been much reflection on trees, as of late whether it be a Musicly from LayLay or a shared vision by Michael, so of course, this too caught my attention, as I began to reflect on the similarities of us and this stunted, weary palm tree.  Tom graciously tolerated my ramblings of thoughts flowing out of me so quickly and way too fast for my speech to keep up.  Which ended up proving to be more than his mind could comprehend.  He finally said, “Honey, you have blown through four topics in 30 seconds, which is more than I can conceive.”  I just giggled, because he knows me probably better than anyone on this planet and embraces me for me.?

So I said to him…  Those ugly trees might make it through the Winter and yet the prettiest ones potentially die.  I also said, I think we resemble those trees.  I asked him if he dug up the dead tree and threw it away?  He said “No, I trimmed it way back to practically a stump to see if it would come back to life because it still has a little bit of green…”  I am paraphrasing here, but that was the jest of our conversation.  And then I knew WHY what he shared with me struck me with such vital importance.  This speck of green life Tom saw on the OUTSIDE of this tree, actually represented the full life on the INSIDE of the tree and he just cannot see it yet.  Not to mention, the Winter broke the tree, but there is still a potential for life inside it.  All it needs is a little TLC – some trimming, warmth and sunshine and water.

Basically, this palm tree needs a break from the harshness of Winter.  And so do I.

I am sure many of you can relate…  Like me, I bet you too could stand a little separation from the harshness from this World which smothers you in coldness, causing you to feel like this palm tree.  And all you need is that one to come along beside you, just as Tom did with his tree…  To give you a little TLC.  Some comfort, warmth and water.?

They say palm trees have the most sturdy and deep roots, which enable them to withstand many winds and beatings, so to speak.  This too is a commonality we share with these trees.  Even as I am writing these words I feel the comfort of the Holy Spirit washing over me.  I pray you feel that at well.  Sometimes, it just helps us to know we are not alone and that others are going through things too.  We can comfort one another in this way, by the same way in which we were comforted.

As a securely knitted cloud of witnesses, we cheer one another on in this heartfelt way.

There are times in our lives in which it seems this “Winter Season” will go on forever and the warmth will never come.

Just to encourage you ~

The Lord sees the beautiful potential IN YOU.  He finds you worth saving, worth pruning and He does this by His gentle hand.  His words, “You were created for so much more than this,” gently wash over me during the “Winter seasons” of our lives.  As we reflect back on those moments of wearisome harshness, which seem almost too much to bear, it is His hand which is cutting back the dead parts of us as He is establishing us into position, so life springs forth from within.  He is such a good, good Father in this way.

My prayer is that you too see within another just as the Father sees.  Generally, it is what is within that counts the most.  As we abide in Him, He has found His abode in our hearts, where the real treasure of another truly resides.  May you find what you are seeking today in Him, as He pours His love into you, washing over you with His Word to grow you and change you from the inside out.  Rest assured the “Winter” is purposed too as a time of seeking and searching, learning just how to be transformed into His Image of glorious light.

The sun will surely come out tomorrow and we will grow in Him…  All we need is just a little TLC and whole lot of SONSHINE!

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.. And so will you.

May You Be Blessed Today In His Love,

?Angela~Marked By Heaven