Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

Every now and then, I take a look outside my patio door and become a student of nature. Today’s lesson – leaves. It’s summer, and the leaves are in their prime. They add so much beauty to the trees, dancing around in the breeze with such grace. The trees look so perfect and well adorned.

The leaves tell you a lot about a tree. You can tell the type and species of a tree by its leaves. You can tell how much nourishment a tree is getting by the appearance of its leaves. Not only do its leaves tell you about the tree, they also inform you of the current season. By looking at their activity, you can discern how windy it is, without stepping foot outdoors. Likewise, your leaves say a lot about you. Your friends, your priorities, and the choices you make say a lot about you – especially when things are good.
Those leaves that add beauty to a tree, only appear when the weather is favorable. When the temperatures are warm and the rain sufficient they are present. The leaves thrive when they are getting their needs met by the tree and the environment is comfortable. As beautiful as they are, they are only temporary. Many things, opportunities, and people in your life show up when things are good. They add such flavor to your life and you feel so content and complete as they decorate your life with fun and fulfillment.
Then….your season changes. The wind blows stronger and breathes chaos into your sunny life. You start going through some hard times. Your troubles place you in a situation where you need to focus inward. And because you’re not feeding your leaves, they wither and fall by the wayside. Don’t be discouraged when you shed some leaves. They are not equipped to handle storms and cold weather. They will fall to the ground today, break down, decay, and become nourishment for you tomorrow. The tree survives the winter that is inevitable and ultimately grows new leaves in the spring. So will you.