Cutting down trees....

Cutting down a tree...

Over the years my husband and  I planted hundreds of trees.  Some in the dry soils of Nevada and others in the fertile, moist soils of California and Oregon....some lived, some were eaten by deer, many died..we had fruit from some, timber from others, shade from a few....we watered, fertilized, sheltered, and  tended each one as best we could...we pruned and even cut down some which had died for various reasons...

Three years ago, after death of my husband, when I purchased my first home by myself, I chose a few trees to be planted as well.  They have all been watered, tended, fertilized and pruned as well..some have grown and two died this winter in the warm and hard freeze.  So this weekend, I cut one down...will get the next one soon....that was hard...even though they are dried up and dead, I kept hoping they will start to grow again...but, less leaves to rake this fall, though...giving up hope is hard...those dreams of fruitfulness ....expectations of things to come...letting go...dried up, cut down, thrown into the trash, buried ...after growing so well...

It is a tiny picture of losing a loved one...the expectations are still there, the phone call that doesn't come, the wave from the familiar vehicle, the steps or laugh that sound similar, but not the same...that goes on for months and lessens  over time, but still comes suddenly without notice...

Three years ago, we had just finished one graveside service, one memorial and were planning the second memorial service...a cut down tree which had flourished so well...for one whose earthly journey had ended..but, his  productive legacy lives on...

Thank YOU for the trees which flourish and grow ....bearing fruit for years to come....legacies for the future...help me to let go of the dead and dying trees...those without hope, life...and flourish in new ways...

Genesis 1:11-12, 29 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 

Psalm 1:3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,which yields its fruit in seasonand whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. 

Jeremiah 17:7-8 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the waterthat sends out its roots by the stream.It does not fear when heat comes;its leaves are always green.It has no worries in a year of droughtand never fails to bear fruit.” 

Matthew 3:10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 

Matthew 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.