Sticks, Stones & Leaves

March 29, 2007

Season’s Greetings!

Three tall and stately trees grace the little front yard of our office. Last spring, it seemed as though one of them would never come out. Its two siblings came forth in their spring outfits while tree number three stayed gray as winter. We worried over it considerably, especially since the fourth tree had died the year before. Each day seemed an eternity as I looked out my window at every opportunity, trying to see some glimmer of green.

“There it is!” I thought one day. It was hard to tell, for only one corner of the branches had any sign of life. But a sign of life it was!

And sure enough, eventually the whole tree grew out its hair. In fact, it outshone the others and appeared to be our happiest tree notwithstanding its funny shape from the prior spring’s pruning. We worried no more.

Until this spring, that is. We assumed that its ultimate healthiness had put it back on the same biological clock as the others, and that it would have no trouble coming out on time. When it didn’t, the waiting was even worse than last year’s. I even prayed over it, that we would not lose this massive, elegant beauty. There was hope—we knew it could just be repeating last year’s routine—but some moments…oh, when would we know for sure?

“O you afflicted one, tossed with the tempest, and not comforted, Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires.” Isaiah 54:11.

And in the case of the tree, God laid its foundations with soil, and laid its branches with colorful leaves. They’re just now barely coming out, and they promise to be beautiful.

In the case of Patsy and the Coeur d’Alene Education Rally, God laid the foundations and filled the vacancies with wonderful testimonies of His love and power. If you’re in the area on April 14, we invite you to join in the celebrations! (Coeur d’Alene SDA Church, Sabbath school beginning at 9:30 a.m.)

On behalf of Patsy Wagner,

Heidi C. Corder
Development Assistant