My son and I spent a few days at my parents’ house for spring break. My mom has always loved to take pictures and she had taken a bunch in her yard that she thought I could use in my blog posts. She did a great job and she had lots of good ones, but there were two in particular, that she wanted to show me. She said she thought maybe I could write something about them.
This red bud tree was cut down and left for dead.
When she and my dad had some trees cut around their house, this red bud tree was cut down. They assumed it was dead. There was nothing but a trunk left. It remained in the same spot for a few seasons and moss began to grow on it. They gave up on the little tree.
They gave up on the tree, but the tree wasn’t done.
But, the tree wasn’t done. It was dormant for a little while, but then it burst forth into bloom. It wasn’t the same as before, but thriving and blooming, just the same.
I was thrilled with her pictures and she was right. I knew immediately I would write about the little tree. I was thrilled that she was watching for God in the world around her. Did she learn that from me or did I learn that from her? Maybe it was both.
Either way, I am reminded that we often give up way before we should. We find ourselves believing that the best of our years have gone by. We believe that we have little left to contribute. Maybe we’re too damaged, or too inadequate, or too old. Sometimes we sit for a period, believing those lies and let moss grow on us wondering who could ever benefit from our talents or our time.
We could spend the rest of our days as a stump of some kind, just sitting out and missing, out or we could choose another way. We could lean into the truth that comes from God.
We are each special, and loved, and unique, and as long as we are drawing breath here on planet earth, God is not done with us, nor should we be done. We each are called to fill our world with our unique gifts. Those gifts and talents don’t have an expiration date.
There is a time for rest. But, there is never a time to just give up on serving. Maybe you have been sitting out for a while. Maybe you have allowed a little moss to grow, but it’s never too late to burst forth in bloom. It’s never too late to answer God’s call.
Let’s make every moment count. Who’s with me?
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂