“Every great oak was once a little nut that held its ground.”
[modern take on an old English proverb]
This world has thousands of different trees: pine trees, fruit trees, etc. For as far and wide as you can search, they are all around us in all forms and sizes.
It’s amazing to go into the woods and stand beneath the trees in summer. It’s mesmerizing in the fall for the gentle sound of gorgeous leaves hitting the ground. It’s beautiful in the winter when the pure white snow piles on the dark bare branches. It’s joyous in the spring when life renews and the leaves come bursting forth everywhere you look.
Face it, trees are amazing and beautiful. However, there is one tree that stands above the rest by its nickname, the mighty oak. With its branches stretched out wide and the roots that delve deep into the earth, it truly is an amazing tree.
To think, this mighty oak tree was started by a tiny acorn. An acorn that’s been walked upon by humans and animals alike. Acorns are the food for many animals, including one of my favorites, the squirrel. Take these squirrels for a moment. Can you picture being the acorn a squirrel decided to bury? How crazy the ride would be in its mouth? How many times you would be dropped from the tallest of trees? How many times you could be buried and unburied? I’ve seen, and I’m sure you’ve seen, how crazy squirrels can be.
Now picture this — we, as humans, are those little acorns. We are nurtured from the tree as we grow into a full-fledge acorn. Then, something terrible happens! Life. Life happens and we plummet to the ground and land with a thud. Maybe this is your first crisis in life – a death? health issues? financial woes? or maybe this is your hundredth crisis, it really doesn’t matter because each one is hard.
As much as I love squirrels, in this analogy they are the trials and tribulations in life. Just as you are getting used to life on the ground as the acorn, this squirrel/trial picks you up. Its teeth probably hurt and those claws are so sharp. Ouch! “I don’t want this trial. Make it stop!” That’s what I’d be saying. After the squirrel runs a bit, getting you mighty dizzy, and confused, it drops you on the ground and runs off. Finally, a little peace as you gently rest on the ground for a moment.
But before you get comfortable, another squirrel picks you up with its teeth. This time it’s worse! When you can’t think it couldn’t get any worse, you’re dropped into the damp, cold, unwelcoming ground. Then, the little sun you did have is covered up and dirt is packed on top of you. No matter where you look, blackness is all you see. “Can anyone even see me down here in the pit of despair?” The world looks bleak and you have nowhere to turn.
Do you think an actual acorn just gives up? NO! This is the time where it starts growing. It doesn’t let the challenges over take it. While the growing part isn’t easy it still continues. The hard exterior of the acorn starts breaking and the little acorn starts setting it roots into the earth to become another oak tree. Sooner than you know it, it starts sprouting. It grows tall and breaks through the surface of the earth, and as it does that, the roots dive deeper into the soil to anchor it in. That, as humans, we must also do.
Though trials and hardships are things no one wants, they help us grow. We become stronger and our roots get deeper to help us weather the storms that are sure to come. As humans, we have it better than the acorns. We can choose what soil we are buried in and are not at the mercy of a squirrel that buries acorns willy-nilly. We can choose the sandy or rocky soil. The soil that stifles growth and won’t help the tree in case of more storms/trials. Or, we could choose the fertile soil. A soil that feed us, give us water, and one that our roots can grow deep into.
Let’s take this one step farther. This lush soil is God. He gives water, nutrients, helps us grow, and sustains us through whatever may come. This solid ground will never give way. On the other hand, the sandy soil is what the world gives. It may give us many things that people think will comfort, but in the end, it doesn’t helps us during the trials. And do not be deceived, because even when we are mature ‘oak trees’, storms will come and try to uproot us so choose your soil carefully.
One of the best parts is when we grow into this “mature oak.” We may not have all the answers, but we can help those who are going through what we’ve been though. We can show those little “acorns” that no matter what trials may come, they can beat every. single. trial. Use your past, and even your present, to guide those who are in the darkness and the storm.
And, if you even need a good smile or chuckle watch squirrels for a while. They’re pretty funny creatures to watch.
Keeping the perspective,
Lauren
You. Are. Beautiful. 