The Maple Tree: A View from the Window

The Scarred Tree

I love the colors of autumn, a beautiful time of the year! In my front yard, there are several towering oak trees and one lone maple tree. A tornado came through our area several years ago, and during the storm, the maple tree received extensive damage. A tree expert came by after the storm and advised us to have the tree removed. This tree is one of the first we planted after building our home, and I was not ready to let it go. We decided to wait and give it time to heal. I hung on to hope that our beautiful maple tree would survive. And it did. It is still standing strong.

Crooked and scarred from the storm it endured, it is not considered a pretty tree. But when I turn in my driveway, especially during the fall of the year as it showcases its vibrant colors, it reminds me of God’s faithfulness in the storms of our life. And as I awake each morning, looking out my bedroom window, this scarred tree is the first thing I see. Before my feet hit the floor, God uses it to remind me that no matter what the day brings, the day belongs to Him.

Over the years, I have watched the tree grow and change with each season. During summer, beautiful foliage adorns the tree, but the season passes too quickly. Autumn arrives. The leaves change from shades of green to vibrant colors of orange, red, gold, and brown. During winter, the leaves drop to the ground. The tree is left bare and exposed as temperatures plummet to freezing or below. The fallen leaves form a circle at the tree’s base, creating a protective covering for its roots during the cold temperatures.

As springtime arrives and earth awakens from its winter rest, the tree blossoms again with tiny buds that unfold, forming beautiful leaves. The leaves continue to grow, and during the hot summer months, they provide shelter for birds and squirrels as they blend with the colors of the surrounding landscape. In addition, it offers a place of shade for those who need protection from the hot southern sun.

Then the season changes again.

Each year, the tree becomes stronger, taller, and its roots grow deeper as it prepares for another season of change.

This tree is a reminder of God’s faithfulness. As changes come and we weather the storms of life, He proves His love and faithfulness over and over again. Pain and heartache in our life may leave their scars, but He is there to let His beauty shine through. Obstacles may seem impossible as we face financial difficulties, failing health, or painful relationships, but God shows the way forward to new beginnings or a higher place on the mountain of life. We may hear the words, “Give up!” as Job in the Bible heard from his friends, but God teaches us to grow deep with our roots to withstand the storms that come. It is not an “if the storms come” but “when the storms come.”

God is faithful. Never wavering. Never changing. Always providing our needs in His perfect timing.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5 (ESV)