The Tree

I have a stump in my yard that once was my most favorite tree.  God used this tree to encourage me ten years ago. 

My son, Jared, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in May 2001.  After rounds of chemo, radiation and other procedures the doctors decided that the next step should be a stem cell transplant.  In February 2002, we left for Birmingham not knowing when we would be coming back home.  After the transplant and complications, Jared died on April 10, 2002.  That was a tough day.  The doctors had told us they didn't think he would make it but we had still held on to hope knowing that with God anything was possible.

Jared died in the afternoon.  We left later for the long drive home.  We were all upset.  We cried.  We hugged. We just were.  It was late night early morning when we arrived home.  It had been six and a half weeks.  I left in winter and came back to spring.

We unloaded the car and came inside the house.  We all walked around in a daze.  We listened to music, prayed, and walked around.  I don't think any of us knew quite how to act.

I decided to go outside and walk around.  It was the middle of the night, quiet, dark except for a street light.  As I walked around, I noticed the signs of spring everywhere.  I continued to walk around and then I noticed it.  My favorite tree was blooming.  I've heard some call it a fringe tree.  When it blooms, it looks like soft white fringes hanging from the branches.  This time the tree was more beautiful than ever.  It was full and I couldn't help but admire the beauty.  As I looked at the tree God instilled hope in me.  Even though my son was no longer with me... life would go on.  There would still be beauty in the world.  New life. 

God can always be counted on to give us what we need when we need it. 

There were hard times in the days after Jared's death but God was and is an ever present help in times of trouble and He is the God of all comfort. 

May we always seek Him in our time of need.

Psalms 46:1  "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help  in trouble."

2 Corinthians 1:3-4  "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."