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One thing I love about Winter is the
Old Wintered Trees.
I love seeing the big ol' Wintered trees. They really have such stories to tell.
This huge tree has been stripped of it's leaves, revealing a huge squirrel nest. I find it amazing how a nest like this can hold the weight of a momma squirrel and her babies.
This old pecan tree, although it has been cut back in previous years, seems to be reaching for the sky. We had to have it cut back a few years ago due to the massive branches growing over the roof of our garage.
I enjoy seeing the towering giant trees stand so tall and so bare against the Winter sky. Their heavy branches reveal strength and endurance of many seasons passed, and as I look at them, I wonder just how old they are.
In their Winter stillness, it is so neat to see how each limb expresses itself against the blue sky.
Wintered trees don't rush the process of changing seasons. They don't resist the cold winds or fight to hold onto their leaves. They jut embrace the season, trusting that Winter is a time of rest and that it is essential for the beauty that will come.
If you think about it, there is a lesson in witnessing the Wintered trees. We (I) need to
Trust the timing of our lives and find peace in the present moment. We need to let these trees remind us that seasons of stillness are NOT to be seasons of stagnation. Winter is a season of preparation that allows us time to gather strength for the next chapter of our lives. Isn't it awesome how God has everything completely planned out?
God's beauty is everywhere! If these trees were not bare, I wonder if we would even notice their individuality as they stand in front of a sunset?
In our journey through life we too carry marks of the seasons. Every wrinkle, every silver strand of hair, every line etched into our faces tells a story. In aging, as in nature, there is beauty that only time can reveal. Just like the wintered trees, we have depth in the roots of our souls that gives us wisdom and grace to keep pressing on.
Wishing you all unforgettable moments of gratitude today....
Shug...
PS: in response to my post yesterday about weighing heavy on one side of my body. The way my chiropractor weighs his patients is:
He has two scales side by side and you stand with one foot on one scale and the other foot on the other scale. This gives you the weight on each side of your body.. Both scales equaled my actual weight with my left side weighing more. This meant that when I stand or walk, I am putting more weight on my left side.
Another beautifully written post and so true.
ReplyDeleteThat’s really interesting how your chiropractor weighed you to determine where you were carrying your weight. Sounds like you’re on the way to being more balanced. No pun intended.
Because I'm enormously enamored by our own winterized trees, I love your thoughts! I'm still a little sad so many of our neighboring trees had to be felled, but I've a precious few photos of them standing strong against the Winter sky. What lessons we can glean from them!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the 'splanation of your chiropractor's scales. That's pretty neat!
We treasure the trees in our forest every season of the year, Shug. But I agree that the starkness of the bare branches against the winter sky holds much beauty and grace in and of itself. Beautiful post!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post Shug! I often marvel at winter trees too. The branches stand out so nicely against the sky.
ReplyDeleteInteresting info on weights being different on one side of the body. When you explain it, it makes sense!
Lovely trees:) We should embrace Winter cold weather as well as the trees!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Shug, for such a thoughtful and heartfelt post. I loved these words, "They don't resist the cold winds or fight to hold onto their leaves. They just embrace the season, trusting that Winter is a time of rest and that it is essential for the beauty that will come". That's true resilience, yes? Just embracing whatever season of life we are in and trusting that it's all part of His divine and sovereign will for us.'
ReplyDeleteHope things have warmed up and dried up a bit for you there. Have a wonderful weekend, my friend.
What an absolutely beautiful post today! I actually love bare trees. Your words are so true and so well written. I found myself nodding in agreement! We have a few more weeks of this cozy winter rest time. I know what I will be doing! Have a lovely weekend, my friend.
ReplyDeleteMy word!! I never would have thought about weighing this way! I, also, love bare trees. In the spring and summer, you cannot see the trees, just the leaves. And I knew what this tree post was telling us even before I continued reading it! Embrace a time of rest, good things will come! I like looking for the squirrel nests, too. My favorite photo is the fourth, with the sun behind the row of trees. It also highlights how each one is different and unique, just like us!
ReplyDeleteI love bare trees! more than I love the ones with leaves. we bought this house because it had 8 trees and we planted 2 more. now we are down to 3 trees. its rare to see trees without leaves here, but we had a grapefruit tree that died from disease. we left it standing tall and bare and beautiful in the front yard. the neighbor wanted us to cut it down. my answer was I LOVE it... along came Ian and blew it down. great post, and a great spirit lifter... so happy you explained how you were weighed, I have never heard of this, but if I had two scales my left side would weight more I think because my leg is shorter than the other and my hip gives me fits if I miss my exercise the doc gave me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the idea about the two scales! I just bought a second one. ❤️
ReplyDeleteWow, now that's fascinating about the 2 scales at the Chiro. office. I think when I walk I must be doing the same thing, because of my bum knee.
ReplyDeleteI too love the artistry of bare trees .
My chiropractor uses a fancy computerized machine to figure out my body and where it needs to be adjusted. Your doctor's method sounds like an equally valid way to figure it out. No electronics needed.
ReplyDelete